Happy Mardi Gras

Purple text around an illustration of green masks with pink flowers on a yellow background

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday". It is a celebration that commemorates the feast before the fasting of Lent and it takes place on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is not observed as a national holiday in the United States, but it is celebrated in traditionally French cities such as New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans had their first Mardi Gras parade in 1837 and continue the tradition each year with participants in colorful costumes and masks.