How to Celebrate Mardi Gras if you aren’t in New Orleans

It’s quite a strange moment, the awakening one experiences (especially the first time) that while we are eating our Popeyes Biscuits, catching float throws, sporting our wildest makeup, tutus, wigs, and costumes, kids everywhere else are in school, adults are at work, and it is just a regular ol’ day in life. .

You have seen it on tv, heard about it from your jet setting friends, perhaps even read about it or watched a documentary on it: Mardi Gras! You want to experience the fun and madness, the flying beads and the huge party vibe but you can’t make it to the Big Easy. New Orleanians wish the world could experience this event, we wish we could share the excitement and adrenaline, the feeling of community, the fun and food because it is something we are pretty proud of and we feel so fortunate to have. But you CAN bring a bit of Mardi Gras to your corner of the world! Some things take a bit of preparation, but you CAN experience a little of our “bon temps” no matter where you are. You can host a party and watch the parade, plan a neighborhood or school parade. Here are some ways to bring the revelry to your place!

First, there’s the food. For a proper Mardi Gras celebration (and really any New Orleans celebration) the FOOD is defining. Mardi Gras parades mean a lot of waiting. You have to get to your spot, you sometimes have to wait between floats or even between parades. We don’t just wait, we EAT. Some people do BBQs or actually make food at the route but for most people, the rules are simple: It shouldn’t be something that spoils easily and it should be something you can plunk down quickly so you can catch.  Common parade foods include Popeyes Biscuits, peanuts (in their shells because part of the fun is throwing the shells on the ground and stepping on them), beer or spirits (especially daquiris), cotton candy, candy apples, chips, finger sandwiches, any type of finger foods that will not spoil outside at a parade (hey, you HAVE to have fuel to keep up that level of energy through hundreds of the floats, bands, AND truck floats of Mardi Gras Day). Mardi Gras day starts early in the morning (some people sleep out the night before) and ends late in the afternoon. It can roll into the night if you venture to parties or the quarter, so you need a LOT of food.  Sweets are vital to keep that sugar coursing through your veins (nothing chocolately, it always melts). Kingcake is a crucial part of Mardi Gras celebrations! While this bready, heavier “cake” varies depending on bakery, most have a cinnamon-brioche type batter (not as cinnamon-y as cinnamon rolls, but it gives you a similar idea)

If you can’t buy a kingcake (or order one from Haydels or Mandeville Bake Shop), you can make one (there are some pretty legit recipes online). If you absolutely cannot bake or order it, you can buy some brioche dough and knead some cinnamon and a little vanilla into it or (insert big sigh) buy cinnamon roll dough (without raisins), arrange it in a ring, bake. Be sure to add white icing (confectionery sugar mixed with water to a nice consistency where it will dry) and top with alternating purple, green, and yellow sugar (the really fine sugar is best, but work with what you have). As I said, there are a plethora of recipes online that are better than the cinnamon roll option but if you’re not a baker or are short on time, it’ll give the idea. Kingcakes have a baby stuck in the bottom (NOT BAKED IN), and the person who gets the baby, buys the next cake. While you may not carry out the tradition, you can definitely throw in a baby (or something found in the baking section of your hobby shop). They are super cheap if you order them (you probably pay more in shipping).

Okay, so you’ve got the food, now you need the wardrobe- some people wear anything purple, green, and gold (the crazier and wilder the better), don wigs, paint their faces. Others wear tutus (any color) or silly socks, shoes, and some people go full-out costume (those people get the best throws). Don’t forget feathery boats, fun shoes, and a LOT of glitter.

If you’re having the party at your home, make some fun Mardi Gras Masks. Hit up your craft store and buy masks, then buy feathers, lace, sequins, glitter, and a lot of glue. Create a masterpiece to wear during the parade.

Listen to Mardi Gras music (google has a great line up: https://www.google.com/search?q=Mardi+Gras+music&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab)

And tune in to the parade by streaming online.

Now if you to bring a little parade to your neck of the woods-
Get your groups together and have a mini parade. Locally, our scout troops and almost every school (including nurseries) do parades. Some walk and throw beads (in costume of course), some schools decorate wagons (look online, some are really impressive and will give great ideas), and some decorate parents’ trucks and roll down the street in front of school. Some neighborhoods do a small neighborhood parade with wagons, skaters, trucks or convertibles. Some elect “royalty” and do a proper “Krewe” dinner and presentation (to teach the kids) and others just do a parade- you can order beads online or ask your favorite southerner to send their throws to you. You can make your parade as simple (around the block) or as elaborate (your own royal court and pre-parade party) as you want. Just remember, music is important, costumes are critical, throws can be anything from candy and stuffed animals to legit throws obtained online.

Don’t forget, if you want to make this educational, Mardi Gras is steeped in history and tradition, it is also a religious holiday! It’s not just about the party at all. The parades are such a small part of the season and of the purpose of Mardi Gras. Did you know Mardi Gras ties into Easter? It’s our last big party before the fast and conservativeness of Lent…. kind of a “get it out of your system” kind of thing. The first parades threw real money, jewels, and trinkets as a way for the wealthy to give to the poor. Do a bit of research, if you’re not from here you may be surprised at the true Mardi Gras season and reasons. 🙂 Now get out there and do the Mardi Gras Mambo! 🙂