Qu'est-ce que c'est, Mardi Gras?

Qu'est-ce que c'est, Mardi Gras?

By Mlle Blasy

Open Ended

What do you know about Mardi Gras?

​Le vocabulaire

Mardi Gras: Mardi Gras

le Carnaval: Carnaval

le violet: purple

le vert: ​green

l'or: gold

le masque: mask​

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Mardi Gras is a Catholic holiday and popular cultural event that dates back THOUSANDS of years!​ The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe. Mardi Gras is also commonly referenced alongside Carnaval, but they're actually just two parts of the same celebration.

francais

Mardi Gras

It’s one single day during the Carnival season (the last day of the Carnival season) before the Catholic Season of Lent when fasting begins.

Mardi Gras

A season that lasts a few weeks, ending on the day before lent. Currently celebrated in over 50 countries with: parades, merrymaking, feasting, masquerading, festivals and entertainment.​

Carnaval

So what's the difference?

le 6 janvier: L'Épiphanie - a Christian holiday to commemorate the 3 wise men bringing gifts

Mardi Gras: ​THE day before Lent

Ash Wednesday: ​THE first day of Lent

Lent: ​40 fasting of something -- to represent Jesus fasting for 40 days in the desert

Easter Sunday: ​the resurrection of Jesus

hold on, Let's take a look at the timeline ...

Multiple Choice

Mardi Gras and Carnaval are associated with which holiday?

• Mademoiselle's birthday

• Christmas

• Easter

• Halloween

Late Latin expression: carne levare, which means "remove meat"

Folk etymology: carne vale, "farewell to meat".​

Christians avoid eating meat during Lent!​

carnaval

Mardi = Tuesday​

Gras = fat

​

Mardi Gras = Fat Tuesday!​

mardi gras

so what do these words mean?

Multiple Choice

What does Mardi Gras literally translate to?

• Happy Tuesday

• Fat Tuesday

• Let's party

• Happy Easter

but what does fat have to do with this?

"Fat Tuesday" simply describes the exact intention of the holiday -- eating all of the rich, fatty foods before giving them up for lent. ​

​

So what kind of foods are we talking about here?​

Princess and the Frog? Food day? We've seen these before!

​​beignets

Classic! It isn't a French celebration without les crepes.

​​crepes

Les gauffres (waffles) are a staple on any French street during a celebration ... with all the toppings!

​​gauffres

The most iconic of Mardi Gras, King Cake!

​​gateaux des rois

​

Poll

Which Mardi Gras snack are you eating first?

• beignets

• crepes

• gauffres

• gateaux des rois

The king cake tradition originates from the​

​L'Épiphanie tradition of eating a "Galette des Rois". This tradition was "Americanized" when Mardi Gras was brought to the U.S.

King Cake

​

In the past such things as coins, beans, pecans, or peas were also hidden in each King Cake.

Today, a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby." If so, then that person is named "King" for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake.

​

Surprise!

Multiple Choice

What's inside the King Cake?

• an egg

• a king

• a crown

• a baby

​​le violet represents la justice

justice​

le violet

​

l'or represents

le pouvoir

power​

l'or

​

le vert represents la foi

​faith

le vert

​

Multiple Choice

What does le violet represent?

• la justice

• le pouvoir

• la foi

Multiple Choice

What does le vert represent?

• la justice

• le pouvoir

• la foi

Multiple Choice

What does l'or represent?

• la justice

• le pouvoir

• la foi

So how did we get Mardi Gras?

In 1702 French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville established “Fort Louis de la Louisiane” (which is now Mobile). In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America’s very first Mardi Gras. Though most people associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, LA–Mobile, AL began holding the festival in 1703, 15 years before it started in Louisiana. It grew into a stronger and stronger tradition even into the 1800’s​

Masks are an integral part!. Hundreds of years ago, masks were a way for their wearers to escape social constraints and social demands. Mask wearers could mingle with people of all different classes and could be whomever they desired, at least for a few days.

the wearing of masks, throwing trinkets and beads from the floats in the parades, and a reigning King and Queen

​Similarities

France vs. The United States

Les Masques

Despite being in Paris, this Carnaval is not the most popular. However, there is a 3 km long parade through the city!

​

le Carnaval de Paris

​The Carnaval in Nice is the biggest and most popular Carnaval celebration! There's a parade with large floats, like the one pictured above.

​

le Carnaval de Nice

The Carnaval of Dunkerque is one of the only ones that does not have a parade, but it still attracts a lot of people in the streets!

​

le Carnaval de Dunkerque

The Carnaval of Annecy ALWAYS has a Venetian theme. This is where you'll find the most elaborate costumes.

le Carnaval de Annecy

Open Ended

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