A European import, Mardi Gras (or Carnival) has been celebrated for centuries under one name or another by many Catholic Europeans, as a season of partying leading up to Lent. Historically, the first recorded celebration of Mardi Gras in what is now the United States occurred in 1699, on a Mississippi River Island just downstream from modern New Orleans. The French explorer who threw the party named the place Mardi Gras Island. He then moved upriver and staked out the site for modern New Orleans.

Carnival season begins on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, with parties intensifying in the two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. The height of the party -- including the most famous parades and other activities -- is the last long five-day weekend, from Friday through Fat Tuesday. This year Fat Tuesday is February 24th.

note: "Mardi Gras" is really only the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but over time for many it has come to refer to the couple of weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday (which is the English translation of the French - Mardi Gras.

Throw your own Mardi Gras party

If you can't make it down to New Orleans for the real thing, why not throw your own Mardi Gras bash? It's a great way to get out of hibernation and celebrate the coming of spring! Here's everything you need to know.

Invitations

Set the tone of the party by sending invitations in official Mardi Gras colors -- purple, gold and green. For true Mardi Gras flavor, ask guests to arrive in costume.

Decor

At Mardi Gras parades, parade participants throw trinkets from floats, including medallions and long strings of colorful beads. Colored lights are often strung around homes during Mardi Gras as well -- in the official colors, of course. Check out a dollar or department store for decorations, or shop online (www.mardigrasoutlet.com is a good place to start). Remember -- subtle and Mardi Gras do not go together, so have fun and don't worry about going over the top!

Costumes

Deck yourself out in a few strands of beads, or go full-tilt in a head-to-toe getup. Feather masks can be a fun way to "disguise" yourself -- they're even available at some dollar stores, so you can afford to provide a few for your guests, too. Welcome party goers with a strand of beads to wear around their necks -- and a cocktail, of course.

Music

A key part of Mardi Gras, the party won't be complete without the right music. Put on some lively jazz or zydeco music, or pick up a New Orleans of Mardi Gras compilation CD -- they're out there. Popular Mardi Gras tunes range from the boogie woogie of Professor Longhair, to the the pop of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, to the soul of the Wild Magnolias and the Dixieland sound of Pete Fountain. You can also log on to www.cajunradio.org for top tunes and to listen to Louisiana radio in real time.

Mardi Gras Cocktails & Drinks

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Offer your guests one of the many drinks associated with New Orleans, like the famous Sazerac, or make up a pitcher of the Hurricane. Of course, many people think bourbon when it comes to Mardi Gras drinks, and we do have a few to choose from. Try our Blue Grass Cocktail, the Crescent City Special, the New Orleans, or a classic Mint Julep.

For non-drinking guests, mix up a pitcher of the same cocktails, minus the spirits.

For a Canadian twist try the Mardi Gras Caesar.

Food

Mardi Gras is more about the party than the food, so don't worry about creating a fussy spread. For appetizers and the main course, think Creole, which generally means seafood. A shrimp dip, crab cakes, and maybe a big pot of crawfish stew or seafood gumbo will do the trick. Families often tote fried chicken to parades, as well -- this is an easy one for you to buy, and for your guests to enjoy as a "finger food."

The one must-have on your food table is King Cakes. In European countries, the coming of the wise men bearing gifts to Christ is celebrated 12 days after Christmas (which is when Carnival begins). One of the most popular customs is still the baking of a special cake in honor of the three kings -- a "King's Cake."

A King Cake is a cinnamon-filled, hollow circle of dough with a glazed topping and Mardi Gras-colored sugars sprinkled on top. Some King Cakes are baked with a small plastic baby in the middle -- tradition dictates that the person who receives the cake with the baby is obligated to host the next party.

You can make your own King Cakes (look for suitable babies at dollar stores or order online), or order the real thing online from www.gambinosbakery.com.

 

Entertainment

In true Mardi Gras style, consider awarding prizes for best costumes, or elect a Carnival king and queen. And while it's true that some wilder Mardi Gras participants (New Orleans locals emphatically state that this isn't the true spirit of Mardi Gras) flash body parts in exchange for beads, we leave that portion of your party entirely up to you.