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Make it a Merry Mardi Gras

Get out your green, purple and gold–we’re less than 24 hours away from Mardi Gras madness. My 7-year-old is thrilled beyond words that her small Catholic school is allowing students to ditch their requisite uniforms for merry Mardi Gras outfits. Tomorrow kids will be allowed to wear Fat Tuesday-themed ensembles, including colorful beads, elaborate masks and the traditional colors of Mardi Gras: green, symbolizing faith; purple, symbolizing justice; and gold, symbolizing power. In addition to dressing up for the Fat Tuesday festivities, the kids will participate in a parade through the school’s hallways. While the event won’t come close to … Continue reading →

Mardi Gras Madness

Break out the beads, grab some gumbo and let the good times roll–Mardi Gras is just two days away. Even if you aren’t planning to travel to New Orleans, Rio or another major metropolis that goes all out to celebrate Fat Tuesday, you can still have fun before Lent begins. If you are entertaining little ones, then you’ll want your pre-Ash Wednesday party to be filled with family-friendly activities. Here are some simple ideas to jump-start your Mardi Gras festivities: Beads: You can’t celebrate Fat Tuesday without a bunch of brightly-colored plastic beads. Give your kids several strands to wear, … Continue reading →

How to Make Fat Tuesday Fun for Kids

Fat Tuesday is typically associated with half-naked women whipping out their hooters and half-naked men whipping beads at ladies to see said hooters. Not exactly kid-friendly stuff. These days you don’t have to travel to New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro to partake in R-rated Fat Tuesday celebrations complete with raucous booze-filled parties. Heck, the tiny rural town I reside in holds an annual Fat Tuesday beer chugging contest at the pub on Main Street. Hide your children… or steer clear of the mayhem by taking them to Mass. On Shrove Tuesday our church is celebrating a Votive Mass in … Continue reading →

Family Fun Weekends

Visit Disneyland next weekend to meet Baloo and other rarely-seen Disney characters Everyone knows that the Disney Parks don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party. Sometimes their festivities for actual holidays seem dimmed, because fireworks and parades are almost daily occurrences at the parks. Still, we can trust Disney World or Disneyland to roll out something special for even the most minor of holidays. The first few months of the year are packed with various cultural celebrations, and this year Disneyland has decided to take advantage of that and host a months-long party. The official parks blog … Continue reading →

Making Mardi Gras Fun for Kids

Mardi Gras doesn’t have to be all about booze and boobs. Forget about partying in New Orleans. Instead, stay home and have some good clean fun with your kids. Here are some simple craft projects to help celebrate the countdown to Lent: MARDI GRAS CROWNS Materials: Metallic Crowns (available at party stores, dollar stores and other discount retailers) Sequins and/or Gemstones Craft Glue Glitter Stapler Directions: Glue sequins or gemstones to crown. Add dabs of glue to various spots on crown. Sprinkle glitter on glue. Shake off excess glitter. Size crown and slide tab into the slot. Staple to hold … Continue reading →

Fun Mardi Gras Craft Projects for the Entire Family

My daughter is counting down the days until Fat Tuesday. While we don’t have plans to party hearty in New Orleans, the day before Ash Wednesday is traditionally when I allow my preschooler to choose not one, but two treats at our local bakery. It’s not exactly, a gorge-fest with booze and beads, but she’s just four and the simple outing makes her happy. Another Fat Tuesday activity that makes her happy is listed below. I try to do at least a couple craft projects with her to celebrate the day. The projects are simple, affordable, and yield cute results. … Continue reading →

Mardi Gras Fun in New Orleans

The countdown to Mardi Gras 2009 is on and nowhere in the country are they more excited about the event than in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Big Easy traditionally hosts one of the largest Mardi Gras festivals in the entire world. In fact, according to event organizers, not even the current recession is putting the pinch on this year’s festivities. If you’re planning to head down to New Orleans to celebrate Fat Tuesday, then don’t miss out on the Mardi Gras parades. And don’t forget to bring some shopping bags along. You’ll need them to hold all the loot that … Continue reading →

Where to Get Your Party On During Mardi Gras

As I mentioned in a previous blog we’re just wrapping up Christmas celebrations at our home (round three of gift opening took place on Sunday—the Epiphany or Three Kings Day) and now another big celebration is just around the corner. Mardi Gras (a.k.a. Carnival) is less than a month away and if you plan to party like a college coed at the world’s hottest Fat Tuesday blowouts then you’d better make your travel plans now. Tickets to the best parties in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro and Trinidad are going fast. The festivities peak on February 5th and lucky for … Continue reading →

Mardi Gras in Missouri

I’m still in shock. As I was going through my new calendar today I noticed that we are only about a month away from Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday falls on February 5th this year. Fat Tuesday then Ash Wednesday and before long it’ll be Easter… and we’re still celebrating Christmas in our home. My daughter is up to the ninth day of Christmas and happily belted out what her true love gave to her earlier today as she eagerly awaits the Epiphany and the gifts she’ll get to open on Three Kings Day. But, back to Mardi Gras. If you … Continue reading →

History of Mardi Gras

I found it funny that when I moved to San Diego, California – one of the biggest melting pots in America – that Mardi Gras was no big deal. In fact, some people I worked with didn’t even know what it was. I couldn’t even fathom that. After all, being raised in the South, Mardi Gras was a “holiday” I was aware of each year. Of course, living in Memphis was not like being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but you could still find King Cakes in the grocery store and there was always someone running around town with … Continue reading →