Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Laissez les bon temps roulez...Let the good times roll...this phrase symbolizes the season of Mardi Gras.  Whether you are in New Orleans or Mobile (THE original birthplace) during the months of January, February and sometimes even March (depending on when Easter falls), this is a phrase you hear often.  

Historically Mardi Gras is tied to a religious celebration.  It is the last BIG party before Lent, or the 40 days leading up to Easter each year.  The idea being that you get all your partying out, and then for 40 days you repent prior to Easter.  For me Mardi Gras is a tradition that is deeply rooted in my southern upbringing. I have attended Mardi Gras parades for as long as I can remember.

Each year, everyone always is sad after the Christmas and New Year's holidays are over.  In our family, we are EXCITED because that means that Mardi Gras is only a few weeks away.  My husband and father are both members of a parading organization, and it is a  BIG deal to prep for this each year. So each year when my holiday decorations come down my Mardi Gras decorations go up! I guarantee you that I am the ONLY person in Eugene OR to have a purple, green and gold Mardi Gras wreath on my front door (see pics below)!

When we first moved to the PNW, we were telling some of our new friends about Mardi Gras, and they kinda looked at us like we had three eyes. They were like, uh you go to New Orleans each year and lift your shirt for beads.  We laughed, and then explained to them, that New Orleans Mardi Gras and the partying you see on Bourbon Street IS NOT what our Mobile, AL Mardi Gras is all about.  Mobile is the original birthplace of Mardi Gras, it is MUCH tamer and family friendly.  Ours is about getting together with all of our extended family for one weekend a year, where we go to parades, and get dressed up and go to a ball.  Our non-southern friends are so intrigued by the customs of Mardi Gras and we often have long conversations about all the traditions that go along with it.  I have to admit it was a bit strange at first being amongst a population of people who had no idea about this tradition. And Lord, it took me forever to find ANY decorations for my house...Thank GOD for Amazon Prime! :)  My husband and I have LOVED being able to share this tradition with our PNW friends. In fact, it has become our annual tradition to host a Mardi Gras party, complete with all the traditional foods, I even had crawfish flown in from the south last year!  Mardi Gras is southern tradition that I have really enjoyed bringing to the PNW, and maybe along the way I may even convince some of our PNW friends to come down and join us one year!

Laissez les bon temps roulez!  

Until next time y'all,

Emily