Today, the Mardi Gras Carnival is considered a period of letting go – of your diet, your troubles, and occasionally your clothing – before the tortuous abstinence of Lent kicks in.

Yet there’s a convincing argument to suggest this apparently most Christian of occasions finds its roots in the feared dealings of Paganism.

Keen not to upset the applecart too substantially on their conversion to Christianity, the Romans – so the story goes – decided to leave a few tactical remnants of Paganism lying around. One such remnant was the celebration of ‘Lupercalia’; a circus-like event during the month of February that was characterized by typically Roman decadence and Pagan abandonment.

But whatever its origins, Mardi Gras is now celebrated the world over, from Carnaval in Brazil to the German Fasching.

2009 sees “Fat Tuesday” fall on 24th February, although festivities commence days – if not weeks – beforehand. And if you’ve yet to book a Mardi Gras holiday, never fear, there’s still time…

Three Top Mardi Gras Destinations

Brazil

The Brazil Carnival period is, quite frankly, spectacular, with the Rio Carnival often known as ‘one of the best shows on Earth’.

For more info, see www.brazilcarnival.com which offers a good selection of info on the Brazil Carnival, www.belavista-rio.com/blog/, a well-maintained blog that includes an in-depth schedule, and also http://brazilcarnivaltravel.com/ and  http://www.gringo-rio.com/carnival-in-rio.html.

USA

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Carnival is the big one here, with community ‘krewes’ parading through the streets and tossing beads to those who are deemed worthy. Mobile also boasts an impressive (and slightly less touristy) celebration.

www.mardigrasneworleans.com includes a detailed parade schedule and www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/mardigras provides histories and routes of each Krewe.

Italy

There are two big carnivals in Italy: the Viareggio Carnival and the Venice Carnival. Traditionally, the first is known for its satirical floats, and the second for its Mardi Gras Masks.

For more info, head to http://www.venicecarnival.com/ for a straightforward overview or http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4 for video and photo archives.

Five Lesser Known Mardi Gras Celebrations

Aside from ‘The Big Three’, there are actually many other Mardi Gras carnivals held around the world, including
1) Nice Carnival in France
2) Carnaval de Dunkerque in Belgium
3) Spain Carnival (particularly the festivities in Tenerife and Cadiz)
4) The Germany Carnivals of Dusseldorf and Cologne, known as Fasching
5) Carnival of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean
For more on these, take a look at our top 10 carnival destinations.

Mardi Gras Carnival Tips – How to make the most of the festivities!

Accommodation. Firstly, book early! Right across the world from Brazil hostels to hostels in Italy, good, cheap places to stay get booked up quickly. Secondly, choose carefully! The choice of where to stay can prove crucial: if you want easy access to the parades and performances, book somewhere close to the action; if sleep is necessary to you, pick somewhere further out!

Getting Around. Avoid taking a car if possible. In New Orleans, parking is difficult and towing is a favorite hobby of the police. Taxis in Rio, meanwhile, charge visitors extortionate premiums during the carnival. The best bet wherever you are is to forget four wheels and walk; that way you experience the streets in all their teeming glory.

Finding a Spot. The first rule here is to turn up early. As with New Year’s Eve, Mardi Gras attracts a staggering amount of people onto the streets whether you’re in Viareggio or Trinidad & Tobago. So, if you want to see the parade, pack a lunch, take something to sit on, and claim your spot early on. Also, pee before leaving – finding a toilet once there is no fun at all…

Buying Tickets. Generally speaking, tickets are not needed unless you want to don a Mardi Gras Mask and go to a gala ball, in which case you have to be invited to get in anyway. The big exception, however, is in Rio, where seats at the Sambadrome are sold to the general public in advance of the carnival. These Mardi Gras tickets start at US$50, though they often go for about five times that amount on the black market once the box-office has sold out.

Making the Most of Mardi Gras. To make the most of Mardi Gras (wherever it may be) the key is definitely dressing up! 1) This means you really get into the swing of things, and 2) it means you don’t stand out as a foreigner quite so much. To get your ideas flowing, photos of Mardi Gras costumes and carnival masks can be found here and you can buy costumes online from www.mardigrascostumes.com.

Mardi Gras for Singles. If you’re traveling alone and are in town for carnival, the best bet is to hit the bar at your hostel and make a few friends. Online forums are also a good way of arranging to meet with others in a similar situation.

Staying Safe. As ever, when in a big crowd, staying sensible is key. Don’t wear valuable things, don’t carry wads of money, and don’t get too drunk. Since Mardi Gras is both a religious and somewhat sexually charged occasion, learning how to say ‘shame on you’ in the local lingo is a good way of repelling unwanted attention. There’s nothing like a bit of religious rhetoric to dampen the libido.

Mardi Gras Recipes and Traditions

Can’t get to Rio or Venice? Then celebrate Mardi Gras where you are! Try cooking a traditional Mardi Gras recipe such as pancakes, King Cake, or gumbo and then drink as many Mardi Gras cocktails as you can.

Then once the merriment is flowing, try some of these Mardi Gras traditions…
- Throw eggs and flour at each other.
- Throw water balloons at each other.
- Sing satirical songs.
- Flash your breasts in exchange for beads! (Check out http://www.beadwhore.com/mardi_gras.htm to find out more about this tradition in New Orleans. Don’t worry, the website is safe for work…)
- Bury a sardine in the ground. No joke; this is the custom of the Carnaval de Dunkerque, with the sardine representing the fat of Fat Tuesday. Its burial signifies the beginning of Ash Wednesday and therefore Lent.

Ed. – Have you been to Mardi Gras before? Tell us your best Mardi Gras memories, and send us your favorite photos! NB: Titillating ones will be appreciated but not necessarily reproduced…