Doodles Ave

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Mardi Gras

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mardi-gras-mask

What is Mardi Gras* ?
Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”.  The name comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through Paris on this day.  The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent.  Lent runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter Sunday.

Mardi Gras moves.  It can be anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th.  The date depends on when Easter falls.

French people who came to the United States brought the custom of Mardi Gras with them.  The most famous festival in the US (and perhaps the world) is at New Orleans in Louisiana *wistful sigh*– I’ve always wanted to go, not necessarily for Mardi Gras, but just to see it.

But Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world.  Biloxi in Mississipi, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Nice in France, Binche in Belgiun and Viareggio in Italy are just a few examples.

The Tuesday that Mardi Gras falls on is also known as Shrove Tuesday.  The name comes from the custom of confessing on the day before lent.  Shrove means “to be forgiven one’s sins.”

* http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/mardigras/history.htm

Author: doodlesave

Setria James was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She is a graduate of Texas Woman’s University, where she earned a Bachelors in Fine Arts and a Masters of Art. During her graduate studies, Setria explored the effects of imagery on children and their development. It was this research that brought her to “Doodles Ave”; A place where teachers and parents can go to locate coloring related learning resources.

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