Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It is a festive day celebrated in France on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It marks the close of the pre-Lenten season. In the United States this festival is elaborately celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans incarnation of Mardi Gras is quite often one of debauchery and illicit acts, but it has been somewhat sobered by the recent floods that tore through the city. Mardi Gras Season begins on January 6th and ends the day before Ash Wednesday. There is something very dramatic about a Mardi Gras celebration. People wear costumes and beads on this day and celebrate with a parade, a special party and even a ball on Mardi Gras. Traditionally, participants hide their identity with masks and hats. There are many masks that look great. They are used during carnival and are also used as decorations or theater masks all year long. Mardi Gras masks are very fancy masks. feather masks, masks on a stick, papier mache masks, satin eye masks, sequin and glitter masks, Venetian carnival masks, butterfly masks and Casanova masks are all popular. Festive masks, half masks, jester masks, jolly masks, white female masks, white half masks, full face female white masks, blank white male masks, transparent young man and transparent young women masks are also used. These festive masks are great for decoration, gifts or simply to wear. The papier mache eye masks look amazing and mysterious, and are very cost effective. Cat masks and dream-maker masks are papier mache masks with ribbon to tie on. |
