Ash Wednesday (Christian)
The first day of  Lent and the period when Christians begin their 40 day* of fasting and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday.

Followers receive a mark of ashes in the sign of the cross on their foreheads signifying the belief that “from dust you came, to dust you shall return.” A version of which is stated by the priest when the ashes are administered to each follower.

The ashes used are from palm leaves left over from the previous years Palm Sunday observances.

*While the Lenten period is actually 46 days, Sundays are not considered part of the period of penance.

photo credit: via flickr

Mardi Gras
The last day of festive and sometimes rowdy celebrations leading up to the start of the Lenten season (Ash Wednesday). Mardi Gras is also know as “Fat Tuesday”, ” Shrove Tuesday”, or “Pancake Day”.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades where beads, doubloons, cups, and trinkets are thrown from floats into the exuberant crowds.

Join us for our Mardi Gras celebration – Mardi Gras on the Net

Happy Mardi Gras!

Holidays on the Net is delighted to invite you to our bash in honor of Fat Tuesday.

Celebrated throughout the Gulf Coast, Mardi Gras is practically synonymous with New Orleans. But you don’t have to live in Creole Country to enjoy a good party. In fact, if you want to get in on the fun, just come join us at Holidays on the Net for our Mardi Gras Ball!

Learn all about the history of Mardi Gras, AKA Fat Tuesday (including just what’s so “fat” about this mid-winter Tuesday). Discover the magic of a Mardi Gras parade and investigate their myriad traditions, like throwing beads, doubloons and trinkets. Try out our recipe for the traditional King Cake, or make some of your own party goodies — maybe even your very own parade float!

 If you have young children, you will definitely enjoy our Mardi Gras coloring pages and craft projects, including instructions for making your own festival masks. And if you are planning a Fat Tuesday party, why not create your own Mardi Gras version of Trivial Pursuit, using the fun Did You Know tidbits we worked up just for you.

We look forward to celebrating with you! Please join us anytime between now and February 24th, the official 2009 celebration of Mardi Gras.

Happy Holidays!

Holidays on the Net

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 23 : 01 day till Mardi Gras

Did you know that King Cakes are a traditional Mardi Gras food? The cake’s origins can be traced back to the Feast of the Twelfth Night, which honored the three kings who were present at the birth of the baby Jesus.

Inside the sweet bread-style cake, which is frosted in the traditional Mardi Gras colors, a tiny baby doll is hidden. The lucky eater who gets the piece of cake with the baby doll has to throw next year’s party.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

This is the last fun fact in our count down to Mardi Gras.  Please visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our full list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 22 : 02 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that the ever-popular beaded necklaces, so ubiquitously associated with Mardi Gras today, didn’t come into play until the 1880s? That’s when one of the Krewes dressed up a member as Santa Claus and had him toss out glass beads. It was such a hit that by 1900, beaded necklaces had become the Mardi Gras throw.

Somewhere along the way, those lovely glass beads got replaced by cheap plastic and aluminum beads, which today earn the thrower a flash (of flesh). That particular “trading” tradition most likely dates back to the 1970s.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

Shrovetide
The three days of fun and festivities leading up to Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Individually known as Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras).

photo credit: via flickr

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 21 : 03 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that the tradition of Krewes tossing out handouts to parade onlookers — or “throws” in New Orleans parlance — dates back to Renaissance Europe? That’s where the festival custom started in which lords and ladies would hurl mead* and ale at revelers.

Some historians believe the tradition has even more ancient roots. Pagan peasants would toss grains at their fields in the springtime, as a show of gratitude to the deities for allowing them to survive the bitter winters.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

*Mead is a beverage typically alcoholic, made from honey and water, by fermentation with yeast. Its alcoholic content may range from that of a mild ale to that of a strong wine. It may be still, carbonated, or sparkling. It may be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet… often referred to as “honey wine. (source: Wikipedia)

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 20 : 04 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that the first Mardi Gras parade was staged in the United States 1837? It has been reported that there was just one float, which, despite its crudeness, brought great joy to the people of New Orleans. Today, the city begins its cascade of parades the Friday before Ash Wednesday. The parades feature hundreds of different floats from the city’s many parishes, each of which is sponsored by a different Krewes, or club.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 19 : 05 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that historians debate when and where the first U.S. Mardi Gras celebrations took place? Some say it happened in the late 17th century, just south of New Orleans, introduced by a French explorer named Sieur d’Iberville. Others argue that the first Mardi Gras was celebrated by French soldiers back in 1703, in the city of Mobile, Alabama. (Don’t tell the people of New Orleans that, though!)

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 18 : 06 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”? Some say the term alludes to the over-indulgences of the day. Others explain that the word “fat” refers to a fattened ox that was paraded through town before being sacrificed at a mid-winter, pagan fertility celebration.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.