Mardi Gras goes back to the ancient Roman carnival of Lupercalia that was held every February. When Christianity came to Rome, the church fathers decided to keep some of the pagan rituals. It became a period of partying before people had to give something up for Lent. It was brought to America by a French explorer named Iberville in 1699. He arrived in Louisiana on Mardi Gras.

Louisiana was a French territory in the 1700's and during this time there were many masked balls and festivals. It was banned when the Spanish took over the territory and after the area became part of the United States. Then in 1826 the governor allowed the masked balls to make the Creole people happy. By 1837 the celebrations included a parade of masked people. Violence has always been associated with the parades, but Mardi Gras continues today even after the devastation of Katrina.

Mardi Gras is celebrated 47 days before Easter Sunday, but the Mardi Gras season starts on January 6th, the twelfth day of Christmas, or Epiphany. It ends the day before Lent.

Colors that are associated with Mardi Gras are purple which represents justice, green that stands for faith, and gold that stands for power.