FYI: Mardi Gras
I've chtted with American friends yesterday and the face they pulled when I said "I used to do Mardi Gras when I was a kid, but I don't anymore." reminded me of something. I'm French.
So yeah. A few points of clarification:
+ The name: Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday. I think, at the very origin of the day, you ate as you peased that day just before you started keeping Lent (correct use of the phrase?). Anyway... it was religious.
You can see what it boggles my mind to see what it's become in New Orleans. (The spring break version. I like the back street jazz festivals very much. ^^)
Traditionally you have crepes on that day.
And... kids dress up and go door to door to have candy, crepes or... sweets and baked goods of various kinds. Nowadays, teachers also take kids to sell said crepes to raise funds for activies.
So, this is what my Mardi Gras looked like:
(I am not in those pics. I found those on the interwebz. I think there are a few very embarassing ones in my mum's albums, but... they're at my parents place, thus, unavailable to me. :/)
I'm just saying. There were absolutely no beads involved. :P
Actually, I bet if you asked most French about them, they'd have no idea what you mean. Also, they'd say "Oh, you have Mardi Gras in the states??"
So yeah. A few points of clarification:
+ The name: Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday. I think, at the very origin of the day, you ate as you peased that day just before you started keeping Lent (correct use of the phrase?). Anyway... it was religious.
You can see what it boggles my mind to see what it's become in New Orleans. (The spring break version. I like the back street jazz festivals very much. ^^)
Traditionally you have crepes on that day.
And... kids dress up and go door to door to have candy, crepes or... sweets and baked goods of various kinds. Nowadays, teachers also take kids to sell said crepes to raise funds for activies.
So, this is what my Mardi Gras looked like:
(I am not in those pics. I found those on the interwebz. I think there are a few very embarassing ones in my mum's albums, but... they're at my parents place, thus, unavailable to me. :/)
I'm just saying. There were absolutely no beads involved. :P
Actually, I bet if you asked most French about them, they'd have no idea what you mean. Also, they'd say "Oh, you have Mardi Gras in the states??"