SHE Got Schooled at Mardi Gras

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Hey Ya'll! Our main goal at SHE Degree is to teach women. We cover all aspects of life - cooking, cleaning, organization, fashion, etc. It's what makes us well rounded women, and to do that, you have to know a little bit about everything. Today is officially Mardi Gras, and, I'll be honest, I didn't know much about Mardi Gras (besides the beads) until recently. So if you're like me and were living under a rock your whole life, I thought I would do a little recap of Mardi Gras. Think of it as adding a little culture to your day!

History

• Mardi Gras originated on March 2, 1699 when Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville discovered land south of New Orleans. He and his men named the land "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when they realized it was the day before Ash Wednesday.
• Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French, and refers to the last day before Ash Wednesday. On Fat Tuesday many people feast on fatty, heavy foods before Lent. It can fall on any day ranging from February 3rd to March 9th - but it is always 46 days before Easter.
• The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power).
• The first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States was in Mobile, Alabama.
• It's celebrated by wearing masks, costumes, dancing, and parades (among other things).

Image via Google

King Cakes are part of the tradition of Mardi Gras. They are baked to honor the three Wise Men and are decorated in purple, green, and gold. Previously, coins, beans, pecans, and peas were hidden in the cake. Today, a small, plastic baby is hidden inside of each cake. If a person is served a slice of cake that contains the baby, they are considered the "King" of the day and are in charge of hosting the next party and providing the King Cake. 

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler ~ Let the Good Times Roll

I hope you learned something new today! It's always nice to have small tid-bits of information in the back of you mind. You never know when you'll need it!

xo ~ Brittney