Mardi Gras

Most carnival celebrations involve colourful parades(1), elaborate costumes(2) and masks, extravagant parties with dancing and abundant food and drink. Carnival celebrations culminate on Shrove Tuesday(3), one day before the beginning of Lent(4), when people are supposed to(5) abstain from eating meat and from enjoying other “excesses”. As a matter of fact(6), the word carnival probably comes from “carnem levare”, which means “to take away meat” in Latin.

The precise origins of carnival are unknown, but this festivity came to symbolise the death of winter, the start of a period of fertility, and it was a time when people could temporarily ignore the strict social, moral and religious codes. Masks gave slaves and servants the opportunity to be on a level with their masters, socially speaking, at least for a while. Behaviour, which would normally be looked down upon(7) or even punished, was allowed; lively street celebrations and elaborate parties were held everywhere.

Needless to say(8) the Church didn’t like the idea of carnival. But they could do nothing to stop such celebrations, so they finally gave in(9) and incorporated this and other “pagan” festivals into their own religious calendar. Carnival celebrations which had originated in Italy soon became popular in other Catholic countries such as France and Spain. The Europeans brought their festivals with them to their American colonies.

French colonists introduced Mardi Gras, which translates as Fat Tuesday, to the U.S. and it quickly became popular in New Orleans. The earliest organiser of balls(10) was the Boeuf Gras Society, which was formed in 1710 in the town of Mobile. They held their first parade in 1711. The boeuf gras (which means fatted ox(11)) was paraded through the streets on Shrove Tuesday, and this is where the name Fat Tuesday came from.

Mardi Gras is 47 days before Easter, so it can occur on any Tuesday from February 3rd to March 9th. This year’s Mardi Gras is on March 8. The festivities start at 8 in the morning and end at sunset and they get ever more spectacular as the days go by. Thousands of people line the parade routes to see the floats(12 )and try to catch one of the many gifts thrown to the crowds. The famous bead necklaces and coins called doubloons(13) are among the most sought-after(14) items. Other gifts include stuffed(15) animals, artificial flowers, cups and hats. And of course, people attend costume balls.

Bourbon Street is where the party stays in full swing(16) throughout the celebration. It’s the place to hear some of the best jazz music anywhere but, if you go there on the night of Mardi Gras, don’t be surprised to see plenty of wild revelry(17). On Ash Wednesday(18), many of the revellers go to church with their hangovers(19) to ask for absolution. During this special service, ashes, symbolising death, are rubbed(20) on their foreheads to mark their commitment to return to a “normal” life!

(1) desfile, (2) traje, (3) martes de Carnaval, (4) Cuaresma, (5) supuestamente, (6) de hecho, (7) espreciar, (8) no hace falta decir que, (9) rendirse, (10) baile, (11) buey engordado, (12) carroza, (13) doblones, (14) buscado, (15) de peluche, (16) baile, (17) estar muy animado, (18) miércoles de Ceniza, (19) resaca, (20) untar