CINDY PAOLA GRANADOS TELLEZ CYNTHIA MARIÑO SANTOS ERICA MARCELA MARTINEZ SILVA YOMMARA STEPHANNY SALCEDO JOYA

 MARDI GRAS  HISTORY  MARDI GRAS COLORS  THE KING CAKE  THE BALLS  THE MUSIC  FACTS

 The terms "Mardi Gras", "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" (in ethnic English tradition, Shrove Tuesday), referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

 It was called Lupercalia based on homage to the Roman god, Lupercus, connected with pastoral care. The fiestas connected with these traditions were absorbed by the early Christian church and were deemed a useful excuse to allow the common people to enjoy a period of merriment before the Lenten period.  This was supposedly to allow a period of enjoyment and excess prior to the abstinence and solemnity of the subsequent Lenten period.

 The Mardi Gras colors of green, purple and gold symbolize faith, justice and power. Power (gold) Faith (green) Justice (purple)

 The tradition of the King Cake dates back to medieval times when the story of The Three Kings visiting the Christ child on the twelfth night grew in importance.  The topping represents a jeweled crown in remembrance of the kingship of the Magi.

 The Mardi Gras balls are renown for their grandeur and prestige. An important tradition is the choosing of the King and Queen of the Krewe, which adds to the glamour of the events.

 Mardi Gras music is very much influenced by the cosmopolitan mix of New Orleans including French, American and Caribbean cultures. Songs like `Iko Iko` stemmed from the affinity between the African American and Native Americans forged in the slavery period.

 This tradition is also celebrated in other countries like: Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands and Sweden.  This celebration is catholic.  Practices include: masks, costumes, social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc.