If you’ve never celebrated Mardi Gras, you may be wondering what all the excitement is over. It can just seem like some weird holiday with babies in cakes and weirdly large parties. However, Mardi Gras can actually be really fun if you celebrate with friends and take advantage of all the different activities it has to offer. Otherwise known as Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras is basically a way for people to indulge in amazing food and throw parties with fun costumes before Lent begins. Sounds amazing, right? I can’t be the only one who will jump at any chance to eat as much food as I can hold. However, if you’re wondering just exactly what you should do on Mardi Gras, I’ve rounded up some ideas for you.
- Throw a Party for Some Friends
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Mardi Gras parties can be so easy. You don’t need to be in a city like New Orleans to party with your friends- all you need is some purple, green, and gold decorations, king cakes, and a good party playlist. You may also want to throw in some beads for guests to wear (a traditional Mardi Gras favorite).
- Buy a King Cake
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If you don’t know the King Cake tradition, all you need to know is that if you find the hidden baby, you basically have to throw next year’s Mardi Gras party. They’re also so good. Any bakery near you should sell King Cakes around this time of year. You can even make one from scratch if you want to get creative!
- Find a Nearby Parade
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Chances are, there’s at least one Mardi Gras Parade happening near you! There are floats, music, and tons of people. Usually, someone will be throwing beads and candy into the crowd, too. All you need to do is wear Mardi Gras colors and you’re good to go. There may even be costume themes or contests, so don’t be afraid to get creative.
- Go All-Out for the Theme
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Generally, the Mardi Gras colors consist of green, gold, and purple. If you plan on celebrating, why not go all out? You can find and wear beads, masks, and clothing in all these colors- and while you’re at it, you might as well decorate your dorm if you want to get really festive. Some twinkle lights and streamers are a great way to get you and your roomie into the Mardi Gras spirit.
- Eat Your Favorite Foods
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Mardi Gras is basically about indulging in all of your favorite foods, so why not do just that? If you want to stay on the New Orleans theme, you can cook a pot of gumbo for you and all of your friends and enjoy!
Mardi Gras can be whatever you want it to be, and whether that includes parties or just hanging out with your friends and some food is up to you!