What is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras in New Orleans. What can I wear and what can I expect?

• Ok so in the morning im hopping on a plane with my mom and heading to new orleans, Louisiana for Mardi Gras. I heard most people wear costumes or festive clothing. Im planning on wearing a black shirt, black skirt, a red feather boa and painting my nails red. Is this festive enough???? Also, what can I expect? How is mardi gras in new orleans?

• Answer:

  I just got home from Mardi Gras in New Orleans a few hours ago....I'm basing my answer on years of experience ... You can wear whatever the heck you want!!! The outfit you have in mind sounds great; I saw a lot of feather boas this weekend and they even threw some from the floats. FYI, Mardi Gras colors are Purple, Green & Gold, so you see a lot of people dressed in those colors. Honestly, there is every kind of outfit you can imagine, but I'd say 70% of people just wear jeans and "regular clothes", but it is always more fun to dress up. Hats are the most popular, the crazier the better. As a heads up, this is the coldest weather I have ever experienced during Mardi Gras. It is only supposed to go up to 48 tomorrow (Monday) and 50 on Tuesday, and the wind makes it feel colder...Be sure to take your coat and gloves so you'll have fun and won't freeze your fanny off. Thought I'd also tell you that we watched to parades at St. Charles and Washington Street, and it was the best area we ever went to. There are a couple places to get drinks for $4.75, they threw a lot of beads, and the crowds were the partying kind, yet not the "fight in over beads" kind! Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!) Who Dat!!! Happy Mardi Gras!!