Happy Fat Tuesday, y’all! Even if we’re not in the Big Easy to celebrate, here’s a little bit of history about the holiday. Whether you’re making your own beignets today (like we are!) or just getting on with your usual traditions– or if it’s just another Tuesday to you– let the good times roll!

With roots steeped in French Catholic tradition, Mardi Gras takes influence from Carnival celebrations to eat, drink, and be merry just before the traditional period of fasting and sacrifice for Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday.

While this period of celebration is mostly honored as a Catholic holiday, it’s not recognized nationally in the US because of predominant Protestant and Anglo roots. However, many cities throughout the country trace specific celebrations back to French and Spanish colonial influences.

To understand the way Mardi Gras works, perhaps we should look towards the mystic societies of Mobile, Alabama. (Known as the first capital of French Louisiana, this city is where Mardi Gras had its first organized celebrations in 1703.)

The societies are known for presenting parades and balls for the enjoyment of the public, going out in colorful costumes to throw small gifts, or throws, to the crowd.

(Most of us will recognize these gifts in the form of bead necklaces.)

Mystic societies are also well known for their masquerade balls– admittance is by invitation only– exclusively open to adults.

The first formally organized mystic society in Mobile was the Cowbellion de Rakin Society in 1830. This society was the first to introduce horse-drawn floats in the parade.

In New Orleans, the mystic society known as the Mystic Krewe of Comus is the oldest continuous organization of New Orleans Mardi Gras celebrations.

Mobile is known to have the oldest Mardi Gras celebrations in the US, and was also the first city to host the first organized Mardi Gras parade in 1830.

Other cities in the US (most notably Biloxi, Mississippi, and Pensacola, Florida) celebrate their own versions and separate traditions around Mardi Gras, and they all come together to celebrate the same essential things: music, food, and live entertainment. Or, in other words, letting the good times roll on and on.

But parades and mystic societies are just one part of the bigger picture of Mardi Gras. Everything is celebratory on this day, and everything has a deeper meaning.

You may have noticed that Mardi Gras is celebrated with a grand color scheme: royal purple (for justice); gold (for power); and green (for faith).

Known as the Carnival’s official colors since 1872, no one really knows why these colors were chosen, but the King of the Carnival declared it in the newspaper for that day’s celebrations.

And now for my favorite part: king cake. (We have to admit we’ve never had one of these before, but after today we’re making one!)

(Editor’s Note: I’ve never been a big fan of King Cake personally, but that might be a symptom of having store-bought King Cake, and not something fresh. -KtE)

It’s another sweet treat, but it symbolizes much more. According to , ” the Christian faith, Jesus first showed himself to the three wise men and to the world on January 6th, also known as Twelfth Night or the Epiphany. The word “Epiphany” is from the Greek word “to show.” This is the day Mardi Gras season – hence king cake season – begins.”

As per tradition, each cake has a tiny plastic baby inside, and whoever finds the baby inside their slice of cake brings the next king cake to an event.

Originally the cakes were a ring of dough with minimal decorations, but modern bakeries typically fill their cakes with cream cheese and other add-ins, complete with purple, green, and gold sugar for decoration.

Many shops in New Orleans also deliver locally made king cakes to out-of-towners, too (which is good news for us in Georgia!)

Let us know how– and if– you celebrated Mardi Gras this year!