It's carnival time.Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (mär`dē grä), last day before the fasting season of Lent. It is the French name for Shrove Tuesday. Literally translated, the term means "fat Tuesday" and was so called because it represented the last opportunity for officially happens on February 8 this year, but the Mississippi Gulf Coast The Mississippi Gulf Coast refers to the three Mississippi counties which lie on the Gulf of Mexico: Hancock County, Mississippi, Harrison County, Mississippi, and Jackson County, Mississippi. area will celebrate the colorful event for nearly an entire month leading up to Fat Tuesday. For a holiday more closely associated with New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , it may come as a surprise to some that no less than 20 parades will roll through the streets of Waveland, D'Iberville, Pass Christian, and other coast cities this year. The Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that more than 100,000 visitors will attend parades throughout the season. "Our goal is to make Mardi Gras on Mississippi's Gulf Coast an atmosphere where families can have a great outing to celebrate the pre-Lenten season The Pre-Lenten Season (see also Septuagesima) is the period of preparation before the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Western Churches In the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, the pre-Lenten season lastis from Septuagesima Sunday until Shrove ," said Jerry Munro, captain of the Gulf Coast Carnival carnival, communal celebration, especially the religious celebration in Catholic countries that takes place just before Lent. Since early times carnivals have been accompanied by parades, masquerades, pageants, and other forms of revelry that had their origins in Association, the area's oldest Mardi Gras group. "When we throw beads to thousands of children lining the parade routes, we know that their smiles are what Mardi Gras is all about." The celebration begins January 15 with the Elks parade in downtown Ocean Springs and culminates on Mardi Gras day with five parades in Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis. For dates, parade routes, and complete details, call 888/4-MS-GULF or see www.gulfcoast.org. |
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