Mardi Gras

Introduction

Masks have always possessed a certain air of mystery that has fascinated persons for centuries. Legend tells us that at very vintage Greek festivals in respect of Dionysus, the god of theater, actors started wearing very large masks. Because the structures used to present the plays were so colossal, these masks unexciting overstated expressions so the actors could express to their immense 25,000+ audiences distinct emotions and reactions.

Mardi Gras, the French for 'fat Tuesday', has got rather a couple of names. While the English used to call it Shrove Tuesday, or, subsequent as Pancake Day, to the Germans it is Fastnachtkuchen, or, just Fastnacht. Yet, irrespective of this title game, Mardi Gras - or at least its counterparts under distinct names, is no newcomer in the history of humanity. Take, for instance, the Carnival. This can be considered as the mother of Mardi Gras traditions, with the source embedded in very vintage Rome. However, round the middle of the second 100 years traditions of the Carnival became well liked as a way to feast and proceed untamed before the somber days of Lent. This is still commemorated as a splendid festival across South America and in the Catholic countries of Europe.

However, this is not the first, neither the only location that the integration of masks into a specific heritage has taken place. Many nationalities held and some still contain celebrations and ceremonies every year to respect the dead or the natural change of seasons.

Discussion

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a carnival commemoration, a kind of vacation that dissolves the usual boundaries of gracious society supportive raucous over-indulgence. Traditionally, persons wear masks on carnival days to permit function reversal and outrageous behavior.

Mardi Gras can be traced back to the Romans in Medieval Europe. They observed the Lupercalia, a circus-type festival which was rather similar to the present day Mardi Gras. This festival respected the Roman deity, Lupercus, a pastoral God.

History shows that King Louis XIV sent a two of French Explorers, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville and Sieur d'Iberville to fight back France's assertion on the territory of Louisianne in 1699. Their setting down completed up 60 miles downstream from present day New Orleans, and d'IBerville entitled it, “Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point"). He went on to colonize the territory of Mobile, Alabama in 1702 and New Orleans in 1718.

Role Reversal

Historically, masks permitted persons of smaller classes to blend undetected with aristocrats, men to dress as women, humans to gaze like animals, all of which would have been considered taboo outside the carnival season.

Secret Societies

Mardi Gras events are hosted by krewes, elite social clubs in New Orleans who coordinate the parades and personal parties associated with the vacation Krewe members wears masks on the floats to conceal their identities.

Colors

Official Mardi Gras colors---purple, green and gold---were chosen by the krewe of the Rex parade in 1872. Purple symbolizes justice, green, belief, and gold, power. These colors often characteristic on Mardi Gras ...