Mardi Gras 2010: Beads, King Cakes, and Parades
by Tom Gilbert
February 16, 2010
www.breakingglobalnews.comFans of beads, masks, and general debauchery are gearing up for the Mardi Gras festivities in cities across the world.
Mardi Gras, or ‘Fat Tuesday’ as it also known, falls on February 16th this year. The holiday marks the final day before Ash Wednesday, a Christian holiday of repentance, and the beginning of Lent, a 40-day religious observance that leads up to Easter. On Mardi Gras, people enjoy their last night before Lent by eating rich foods such as King Cakes, wearing masks and beads, dancing, and having parades.
While Mardi Gras is celebrated in cities around the world, the most famous celebrations take place in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Quebec City, Canada, and New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States.
In New Orleans this year, at least nine official parades are set to take place through different streets in Metairie, Uptown, Westbank, and other neighborhoods.
This year in Rio de Janiero, a seven-year-old girl has been selected as the official “rainha da bateria,†which is Portuguese for “queen of the drum section,†a fact that has upset some celebrants. Celebrities including Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Madonna, and Paris Hilton are reportedly in town to enjoy the festivities.
Meanwhile, in Quebec, revelers can enjoy ice palaces, snow rafting, and maple sugar shacks, while dancing the night away in Canada.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=25487.0