Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday, will be celebrated today, Tuesday, Feb. 13. Although often associated with young adults and revelry, Mardi Gras is a fun holiday to celebrate with your kids and family.
Fat Tuesday reflects the day before Lent, which is traditionally recognized by many religions with fasting. So on Fat Tuesday, people enjoy lavish dinners and rich foods before the more serious season of Lent begins.
New Orleans is the place to be during Mardi Gras, and the city is known for its big parties, parades and gatherings during the week leading up to Fat Tuesday. But there are other places in the U.S. that recognize this tradition. Mobile, Alabama, actually begins celebrating Mardi Gras in November. They take the parties through Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and have mini-celebrations throughout January and February, with everything culminating on Fat Tuesday. Other cities that go big for Mardi Gras are St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; and San Diego, California.
In other parts of the world, Mardi Gras is known as Carnival. Costumes, fancy hats, beads, masks, parades, music and extravagant outfits define each culture's observance, but each country puts their own spin on it. Some of the best known places for Carnival include Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Venice, Italy.
Here in Charleston, there are family-friendly ways to mark the traditions of this popular event. Check out these fun ways to celebrate the traditions of Mardi Gras with kids.
Make a Mardi Gras mask: Use paint, feathers and jewels to make a fun Mardi Gras mask.
Create your own Mardi Gras crown: Top off your mask with a Mardi Gras or jester hat. Anything goes with this flamboyant and extravagant accessory!
Make a paper plate tambourine: Staple together two paper plates with dried beans in the middle so it makes sounds when you shake it. Be sure to deck this tambourine out in glitter, beads – you name it! Dress it up! This isn’t just any tambourine. It’s a Mardi Gras tambourine.
Walk in your own parade: Dress up in bright colors, like purple, yellow and green, and wear your mask in your own family/friend parade. Make sure to have beads on hand to pass out to onlookers!
And let’s not forget about the food. Get your kids involved in cooking one lavish meal. It is Fat Tuesday after all. Something easy for them to make is called “Mardi Gras Muddy Buddies.”
There is also the traditional King Cake, which is named in honor of the three kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus. In true Fat Tuesday fashion, the King Cake is a sweet buttery pastry that is covered in lots of icing and topped with loads of purple, yellow and green sprinkles. Here are four places where you can order a King Cake in the Lowcountry:
Brown’s Court Bakery: 199 Saint Philip Street, Charleston – Order their King Cake for $28.
Glazed Gourmet: 481 King Street, Charleston – Call to order a Bourbon Cream Filled King Cake. This King Cake is made with cinnamon and sugar swirled dough, vanilla bean glaze, sugar sprinkles, filled with bourbon cream filling. King Cakes are 7 inches.
Wild Flour: 1750 Savannah Highway, Charleston – Enjoy a King Cake on Mardi Gras without the guilt since this one is gluten free.
Saffron Restaurant and Bakery: 333 East Bay Steet, Charleston – Taking orders for King Cakes now, call Saffron Bakery to pick up your King Cake Danishes or a cream-cheese filled King Cake.
Bring the spirit of New Orleans to your community and get colorful and festive with your own Mardi Gras party! Happy Fat Tuesday!
