Abstract
This paper discusses Mardi Gras celebrations and relates that, because the media most often focuses on parades, sex, drunkenness, and hedonism associated with Mardi Gras, the traditions and meanings of this celebration are often overlooked. The paper describes the history and present day events of the urban Mardi Gras' Krewes, balls and gift-giving and the formal balls and the Tee Mamou groups of the rural Mardi Gras. The paper highlights the gender-directed ways of celebrating the Mardi Gras and the ways that African-Americans now participate.

From the Paper
"There are many more aspects of male and female interaction then separation in rural Mardi Gras. Interaction between the sexes is not only essential but creates sexual tension, which upholds the silly, crazy, mischievous attitude that is required of runners. One example is the traditional house visits, which bring the traveling celebration to people's homes. A half a century ago, and still today, families stood on the porch waiting for the runners to stop by their house. The purpose of doing this was for the men (and now women) to receive or steal food for the gumbo."

Tags:balls ban krewes parade, begging tradition, muses

Abstract
This paper concerns the traditions of Mardi Gras and describes its customs of royalty and celebrations, the King Cake and other religious characteristics and its official aspects. Also included in this article is how traditions are celebrated and when they officially began. Information for this project was taken from newspapers, the Internet and books and a survey of 6th grade students which demonstrates the knowledge of young people on the traditions of Mardi Gras. The writer points out that overall, this project demonstrates that Mardi Gras is more than just a big party and is, instead, one that has been passed down over the generations and one that should be carried on in a respectful manner.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Is the King a Religious Symbol?
How is Carnival Celebrated?
What is Official about Mardi Gras?
Conclusion

From the Paper
"There are many religious aspects to Mardi Gras and the Carnival season; in fact, the whole celebration started because of religion. Many of the same religious traditions that were celebrated by people a long time ago are still practiced today, one being the King Cake, based on the biblical story of the Three Kings who traveled many miles to find the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. This cake's circular shape symbolizes the route that the Three Kings traveled to avoid King Herod who was following them in their search to find the baby Jesus. The baby in the cake represents Jesus and when 98 local 6th graders were surveyed, 90% knew that the baby represented Jesus."
"The twelfth day after Christmas is also a religious holiday and is known as the Christian Feast of the Epiphany. This was the day that the Three Kings visited baby Jesus; it also begins the Carnival season which precedes Mardi Gras."

Tags:traditions, carnival, celebration, religion

Abstract
This paper explains the origins of Mardi Gras. It looks at the original customs and how the traditions have evolved over time. It also discusses how the media have recently portrayed this festival in a bad light because of the drunken crowds, but that the real traditions of the festival do not support this behavior.

From the Paper
"Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday" had roots in the Middle Ages and was later reformed when the Catholic Church adopted the event. The Europeans of the Middle Ages celebrates Mardi Gras as a festivity before the commemoration of Jesus' death. A "carnival" is traditionally related to a Mardi Gras celebration. "Carnival" which means "without flesh or meat" is being celebrated in relation to the religious event of the Lent. After years of Mardi Gras celebration, the Catholic Church decided to adopt the event as it relates to religious beliefs. The celebration was eventually passed down to other countries especially during those times when the Europeans were able to conquer some lands. One example of a country that was influenced by the Mardi Gras celebration was America. Because of the French conquerors, whose countries traditionally celebrate the Mardi Gras, the tradition of the event was handed down to the Americans."

Tags:american, european, new, orleans, fat, tuesday

Abstract
This paper explains that Mardi Gras can be traced back to Bacchus festivals of ancient Greece and Rome, where the carnival became popular in the middle of the second century. It also look at how it was popular in North America where the Creoles in the 1800s introduced it to New Orleans. The author points out that the New Orleans celebration includes a carnival parade of floats, which first were presented by the Comus krewe in 1857, bands and colorfully dressed marchers who belong to one of the seventy various krewes (carnival groups) in the metropolitan New Orleans of which ten have operated continuously for more than a century. The paper relates that the Rex krewe initiated the tossing of beads and toys to those who attended the parade in 1920, while greatly expanded the bead industry especially in China.

From the Paper
"Are Mardi Gras traditions viable in Asian countries like Hong Kong? Hong Kong is a free market economy, the special administrative region of China, which is highly dependent on international trade. Recent statistics show that its natural resources are limited and its raw materials and food have to be imported. It had extensive trade and investment in China even before it reverted to Chinese administration in July 1997. The Asian economic brunt of 1998 hit Hong Kong quite hard and reduced its GDP, but many see its growth as recovering at 1.8% and 3.7% in the 2000s, comparable to the four big countries of Western Europe. Per pre-2000 figures, Hong Kong's GDP consisted mostly of services at 85%, with a 4% inflation rate, 3.36 million Its chief industries were textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches and clocks. Hopes could not altogether be pinned on China's regain of control over Hong Kong."

Tags:krewe, bacchas, creoles, china, beads

Abstract
This paper explains that the author's visit to the New Orleans Mardi Gras surpassed her most outrageous expectations, an experience that she will never forget and will recount to her children and grandchildren. The author points out that all of the music, pouring from the bands playing in City Park, from the portable radios and stereos up and down the street, from the open doors of local bars and restaurants, and from the young boys dotted throughout the crowds playing steel drums, seemed to meld into one sound, one beat, a distinctive carnival drumbeat. The paper relates that the author and her cousins ended their day by stopping at Caf' du Monde for coffee and beignets where they rested their feet and admired their collection of "throws", which draped their necks and bulged from their plastic bags.

From the Paper
"Saturday afternoon we took a taxi down Orleans Avenue to City Park, the beginning of the Endymion parade route. Both sides of the street were literally packed with thousands of people, at least eight to ten deep, while mounted police patrolled up and down. The meridian was lined with sofas, stuffed chairs, rocking chairs, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, large ice chests, six-pack coolers and the like. Many people had spent the night on the street to ensure a good spot to watch the parade. One look around and I began to understand why this was known as the people's parade."

Tags:krewes, music, people, floats, cafe

Abstract
"At its most basic, Mardi Gras (a corruption of the French words for "Fat Tuesday"), is a pre-Lenten festival celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and communities. Traditionally, Mardi Grove, or Shrove Tuesday, has been celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide and is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent.

From the Paper
"At its most basic, Mardi Gras (a corruption of the French words for "Fat Tuesday"), is a pre-Lenten festival celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and communities. Traditionally, Mardi Grove, or Shrove Tuesday, has been celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide and is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. As the last few days before Lent, the celebration afforded the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink.

However, while the holiday is supposed to be confined to those three days only, in practice (and especially in the New World) Mardi Gras is generally celebrated for a full week before Lent and marked by spectacular parades featuring floats, pageants, elaborate costumes, masked balls, and dancing in the ..."

Abstract
This survey gathers both demographic data from the respondent and gathers data based on questions relating both specifically to the university and to a New Orleans oddity, the Mardi Gras Indian, none of whom are Native American. The paper explains that in studying the students' reaction to a certain passage regarding the Mardi Gras Indians and relating it to other Tulane policies, it may be possible to gain some insight on racism and stereotyping.

Tags:survey, sociology, racism

Abstract
This paper examines social and cultural situation of the city of Florence during the 14th and 15th centuries showing how much of a decadent and self-indulgent municipality it was. By understanding the attitude of that time period, it makes it easier to comprehend the mayhem that was brought on during the time of Carnival - the obsession with food, culture and fun.

From the Paper
"There is hardly an event that occurs where food is not part of the main affair. Eating for the Italians is more than a physiological requirement; rather, it symbolizes many things, including faith, devotion, and family values. In no other ethnicity would one find such connection with emotion and sustenance to food as one does with the Italians. Implementing a Carnival celebration so many centuries ago just seems to epitomize what the Italian people of the time stood for."

Tags:carnival, decadent, florence, gras, history, italy, mardi, renaissance, food

Abstract
"Mankind" presents a comedy of morals concerned with the most fundamental aspects of human behavior, namely, the difficulties of leading a virtuous life in the face of hardships, distractions and temptations. This paper discusses the play "Mankind" and how through the juxtaposition of the elements of Carnival and Lent, they were able to express their grievances against an oppressive society.

From the Paper
"The Medieval drama began as a symbolic re-enactment of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and was meant to educate people on the teachings of the Bible and the doctrines of the church. After a time, the action in the plays was expanded upon and dialogues were added, making it more theatrical. The plays were, of course, still performer in Latin, which was the universal language of the Church. Gradually, drama began to include non-Biblical sources and the plays were performed outside of the churches. At this point, English Medieval drama took off in many different directions, which literary historians divided into three distinct and unconnected groups of vernacular plays: the 'mystery' plays, which were based on scripture, the 'miracle' plays, which were based on the lives of saints, and the 'morality' plays, which were based on the struggle between vices and virtues (Potter 6). The latter of these plays flourished in England at the same time as the Corpus Christi Cycles."

Tags:15th, ash, carnival, carnivalization, century, christmas, circumcision, drama, easter, england, feast, fools, gras, lent, lenten, mankind, mardi, medieval, mercy, ribaldry, tutivillius, vices, wednesday, worldlings