All things New Orleans
Mardi Gras

Okay, what is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras literally means "Fat Tuesday," just like the book title. It was originally a pagan or pre-Christian festival or holiday. The Catholic Church absorbed it into the observance of Lent as a "carnival" (a farewell to the flesh, or celebration of the comforts surrendered during the penitential season). Mardi Gras was celebrated in Europe and other countries long before our continent was explored and colonized by Europeans.

Run away to Mardi Gras.	Can't run away to Mardi Gras this year? Watch it live on NOLA's BourboCAM.

When does it happen?
Easy answer : Yearly, the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.

Actual answer : 46 days before Easter, which falls on a different day each calendar year, and might happen anywhere from February 3 to March 9.

Brainbending answer from www.mardisgrasfun.com: (site no longer active but you can find more interesting facts about Mardi Gras here) "The moon repeats its cycle of phases every 19 years, so we should expect Mardi Gras to fall on the same day every 19 years, but that is not true as one much use a "Golden Number" formula of adding one to the current year and then divide that figure by 19 with the resulting remainder being the "Golden Number." (i.e.: 1997 + 1 = 1998 divided by 19 = 105.16...thus 16 is the "Golden Number) When there is no remainder the golden number is 19. The ultimate result is we subtract 16 from 105 which gives us 89 and checking our "Julian Calendar" we see that the 89th day of the year is March 30, 1997 which is Easter. We then subtract 47 from 89 which gives us 42 and once again checking our "Julian Calendar" we find the 42nd day of the year is none other than February 11, 1997 - - - Mardi Gras!"

Easiest answers of all, also courtesy of Mardis Gras Fun, so maybe we'll forgive them that last digression :
2004 - Feb 24
2005 - Feb 8
2006 - Feb 28
2007 - Feb 20
2008 - Feb 5
2009 - Feb 24
2010 - Feb 16
2011 - Mar 8
2012 - Feb 21
2013 - Feb 12
2014 - Mar 4
2015 - Feb 17
2016 - Feb 9
2017 - Feb 26

Photo by Andy Frazer, Used With Permission Mardi Gras is wild by day--but even wilder after dark.

Mardi Gras dates for the next 50 years
http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/html/Mardi_Gras_future_dates_100.htm

How to make an awesome King Cake, right down to the icing
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~homespun/kingcake.html

Indegestion, Mardi Gras Style
Eat like Stonn, if you dare.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~homespun/mgrecipes1.html

What's a Krewe?
A group (may have hereditary membership or accept non-heriditary pledges) whose members hold a parade which uses floats and/or bands, celebrate Carnival as their primary group purpose, and hold a ball during the annual Mardi Gras carnival.

Recognized/Official Krewes
Babylon
Carrollton
Comus *(disputed) 
Iris
Mid City
Momus *(disputed)
Okeanos
Original Illinois Club
Phunny Phorty Phellows
Proteus
Rex
Thoth
Tucks
Zeus
Zulu

Photo: New Orleans CVB

Check out http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~homespun/krewes.html  for a brief description and history of each.

For even more Krewe information online, including Krewes I've never heard of and the infamous Krewe of Elvis, try http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/krewes/Official_Krewe_Websites.htm .

What's a "throw," or a "parade throw"?
Anything from Moon Pies to bagels to beads and crowns tossed off the Krewe floats during the 60+ parades associated with New Orleans and Mardi Gras. Traditional shout: "Throw me something, Mister!"

Biggest thing I've been bopped in the head with from a Mardi Gras float?
A cake with a shoe in it. Ouch. The cake tasted good. I didn't try the shoe.