There are a lot of traditions that surround Mardi Gras in New Orleans. If you are planning on going just take a deep breath and adopt a "when in Rome" attitude. But there is a method to their madness. Keep reading for Mardi Gras 101.

Shrove Tuesday immediately precedes Ash Wednesday and is the last day before Lent. It is characterized by boisterous parties and parades in Trinidad, Brazil, France, Italy and, of course, New Orleans. The name comes from the custom of "shriving," or purification through confessing one's sins, prior to Lent. The Mardi Gras season officially begins on Twelfth Night, January 6 (the twelfth day of Christmas), with the King's Ball and the eating of King Cakes. These round, crown shaped cakes signify Three Kings Day or the Feast of the Epiphany. They are frosted with alternating bands of sugar colored purple, green and gold - the three colors that have become associated with Mardi Gras. Hidden in the cake is a small doll (the King). Whoever gets the doll in their slice is crowned king and has to buy next year's cake.
A Big Slice is proud to present our very own wine tasting kit, the Bacchus Box, a complete evening of fun in one rosewood box! Challenge your friends to a taste off. May the best wine win! No one, not even the host, knows the identities of the selections. Observe, smell, taste, rank, vote. Was yours the nectar ...or the salad dressing? A relaxed and fun way to discover new favorites. And remember, there is always a next time with the Bacchus Box. Includes everything you need (except wine and glasses) and a free 12 minute instructional DVD. Great gift! To check out the Bacchus Box, click on the bar above. A Big Slice is a very large website (including over 200 recipes!) that is organized thematically. But if you know what you are looking for, just click on the bar above and it will take you to our search page. Type in the term, or recipe in the space provided and it will take you directly to that page. If any links appear to be broken, please let us know at:

thegoodlife@abigslice.com
Click above to return to the A Big Slice homepage. From there you will be able to visit our wine and international dinners sections. Plus we have a recipe and craft archive so you can quickly find what you are looking for. If it is contact information that you seek, that is also on the homepage - near the bottom. Thousands have already signed up for our newsletter. In 2009 we are focusing on the monthly holidays in a different way. How about a Mardi Gras Fais Do Do? Or a hearty St. Patrick's Day Irish Breakfast. We include holiday trivia and history, table settings, napkin folds and of course recipes. All we need is your email address. Click on the bar above to sign up. Thank you!
Click on the above link to return to the main entertaining page. There you will find complete menu, decorating and craft ideas for every month of the year. For everything Mardi Gras including recipes, information about the Krewes and how to make the World's First Cocktail, click the above link.
The official colors of Mardi Gras, purple, green and gold were first used in 1872 and were selected by the members of the Krewe of Rex. There is no real meaning to the choice of colors, but it is generally accepted that the purple stands for justice, the green for faith and the gold for power. In 1857 the first modern style Mardi Gras parade was held by the Mystic Krewe of Comus, the Greek god of festivities. The evening procession was lit by torches and featured scenes from classical mythology.

Ever wonder how the date of Mardi Gras is chosen? It is a fluctuating date that was determined by the Catholic Church. The Gregorian calendar, a Catholic Invention, chose a fixed date for Christmas but movable dates for other religious holidays.

Although Mardi Gras will always be on a Tuesday, obviously, it can fall anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th. OK, to determine the actual date you will probably need a calendar and calculator. Mardi Gras is always the Tuesday that is 46 days before Easter. Or simply buy a calendar and it's always the day before Ash Wednesday.

The word Carnivale is interpreted by some as meaning "goodbye to meat" a food which was not allowed during the Lenten season. But more likely it means "goodbye to the ways of the flesh." Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, might refer to the fact that fat, a meat product, had to be used before Lent, a forty day period during which the fat would ruin if not used. In New Orleans this included the frying of small square doughnuts called beignets. In the European tradition, masked riders, members of the nobility, threw small gifts and favors to the peasant crowds to show off their generosity. Now many of the New Orleans Krewes, organizations that often represent the upper crust of society, similarly throw plastic beads and doubloons (introduced in the 1960's) by the tons. These simple trinkets have become treasures in recent years and collectible reminders of a Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

Throw me something, Mister!
A krewe is an organization that puts on a parade or a ball during the Mardi Gras season. You pronounce it the same way as crew, but the ancient spelling was adopted by the first of these organizations, Ye Mystic Krewe of Comus. Now the name has become synonymous with carnival. To be a member of one of these krewes you must come up with some cash and/or a pedigree. The fee can range from a low of $20 for some of the "marching" krewes to as much a several thousand dollars for the "parade" krewes. But even so, the selection process is rigorous. Often times a membership is only granted to relatives of previous member.

There are three so-called Super Krewes:

Krewe of Endymion - Their mottos is "Throw Until It Hurts" referring to the trinkets tossed all along the parade route. They are known for being extremely generous, tossing millions of beads and doubloons. Their parade is followed by the Endymion Extravaganza which would be right at home in a Las Vegas show room.

Krewe of Bacchus - The Bacchus Parade is always the Sunday before Mardi Gras. This was the first of the Super Krewes formed in 1968. It was also the first to have celebrities as Parade Kings.

Krewe of Orpheus - This is the most recent of the Mardi Gras Super Krewes having been formed in 1993 by Harry Connick, Jr. It is also considered one of the most liberal in terms of membership. They were the first Super Krewe to include both men and women.

Rex, the King of Carnival - Although not one of the Super Krewes, no mention of Mardi Gras would be complete without talking about Rex. Founded in 1872 this parade is the carnival's largest and my personal favorite. You might think this would qualify Rex for "super" status, but the title Super is given to those krewes that use cutting edge technology and massive floats in their respective parades. The members of Rex construct their floats by hand. Amazingly they are still built over wagons that were used by the city of New Orleans to collect refuse in the late 19th Century. The Rex motto is Pro Bono Publico, "for the public good", and defines the organization's commitment to service.

This folk music style has in roots in the American Creole culture. It evolved in the late 1800's in Southwestern Louisiana. One of the first big hits by a zydeco artists was the 1950's song by Clifton Chenier called "Les Haricots sont pas Salés" - the snap beans ain't salty. The French words les haricots were corrupted to "zydeco" and the genre had a name. The music is fast paced and up beat. This is the perfect music for any social gathering but absolutely necessary for this fais do do.

The Zydeco Brothers pictures.