Marti Gras Season

This weekend I experienced something that I have long been awaiting, a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. However I was not excited for this trek for the usual reasons that college students venture to New Orleans. Though I did have my fun on Bourbon Street, I was more interested in learning about the culture this vibrant city. The three cultural aspects of New Orleans that stuck out to me were the music scene, the street performers and the great food. Jazz music seemed to be the tune of the city it was being played at every bar, street corner and restaurant I was at. Although I am fairly unfamiliar to this genre of music, it seemed capture the attention of the people of New Orleans. It was fascinating to see how this city became so united, just through song. Although I was not a huge fan of the food of Marti Gras, it consisted of Cajun and Creole food; I was a fan of the King Cake. It is a very colorful tasty cake that hides tradition every year, literally. The baker of the King Cake hides a figurine of a baby representing the Christ child. Whoever, has the baby in their cake is said to enjoy good luck for the coming year and bake the King Cake the next year. The finder is I was also a fan of the street performers. It was something that I had never seen before. Everywhere I looked There were people wearing intricate masks, dancing in the streets, not to mentions that parades that go up and down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.

The history of Marti Gras is so fascinating; in fact, the word itself means Carnival Season. It begins on Fat Tuesday and ends the day before Ash Wednesday. It is said to be known in the past as a celebratory carnival before the lent season. The colors of Marti Gras are purple green and gold. These colors represent justice, faith and power. Marti Gras is sometimes called the Greatest Free Show on Earth. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to partake in a cultural, historical and carnival-like festivity.