Mardi Gras is usually thought of as a Catholic festival, but its origins likely predate the birth of Christ. Some historians trace the celebrations back to the raucous Roman fertility festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. The Church incorporated the celebrations into Christianity and the festival spread around Europe, and eventually into the New World—the first Mardi Gras on U. Mardi Gras officially marks the beginning of Lent, a final blowout before the 40 days of fasting before Easter Sunday. But many elements of the New Orleans celebration hark back to its pagan roots, the festival's journey through Europe, and the American culture which absorbed it.
36 Sinfully Fun Pictures From Mardi Gras Over The Years
World's Best Mardi Gras Girls Stock Pictures, Photos, and Images - Getty Images
The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated in , before the city of New Orleans was even established. By the s, the Big Easy celebrated the holiday with elegant balls. Parades, like this one in , were established at the end of the 19th century. Before there were women flashing floats, there were men in bras.
Take a journey through seven decades of Mardi Gras parties, presented by Getty Images. A float celebrating the life of John James Audubon, an American naturalist and artist, passes a cheering crowd at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, circa A woman left dances in a hula skirt in a Mardi Gras parade amid men in costumes, circa