Editing Mardi Gras (section)

==Traditions==
The festival season varies from city to city; Mardis Gras often refers to the last day of Shrovetide (or Fastelavn or Carnival), thus being synonymous with [[Shrove Tuesday]].<ref name="Rose1995"/> Some traditions, such as the one in [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, consider Mardi Gras to stretch the entire period from [[Twelfth Night (holiday)|Twelfth Night]] (the last night of Christmas which begins [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]) to Ash Wednesday.<ref name="carnivalterminology">{{cite web|title=Mardi Gras Terminology |work=Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php |access-date=18 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209165238/http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php |archive-date=9 December 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Wild/Dufour/Cowan (seas/New Orl.)">{{cite book|last1=Wilds|first1=John|author2=Charles L. Dufour|author3=Walter G. Cowan|title=Louisiana, Yesterday and Today: A Historical Guide to the State|date=1996|publisher=LSU Press|location=Baton Rouge|isbn=978-0807118931|page=157|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CyI14B5pua8C&q=mardi+gras+season+from+twelfth+night+to+ash+wednesday+new+orleans&pg=PA157|access-date=11 December 2015}}</ref> Others treat the final three-day period before Ash Wednesday as the Mardi Gras.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crivoice.org/cylent.html |last=Bratcher |first=Dennis |title=The Season of Lent |date=7 January 2010 |publisher= Christian Resource Institute |access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

In [[Mobile, Alabama]], Mardi Gras–[[Mardi Gras in Mobile|associated social events begin in November]], followed by [[mystic society]] balls<ref name=carnivalterminology/><ref name="MCA">"Mobile Carnival Association, 1927",
  MardiGrasDigest.com, 2006, webpage:
  {{usurped|1=[http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/Bureau/Mobile/<!--
  -->mobile_carnival_association.htm mardigrasdigest-Mobile]}} {{Cite web |url=http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/Bureau/Mobile/mobile_carnival_association.htm |title=Mobile Carnival Association |access-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307233517/http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/Bureau/Mobile/mobile_carnival_association.htm |archive-date=7 March 2006 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> New Year's Eve, followed by parades and balls in January and February, celebrating up to midnight before [[Ash Wednesday]]. In earlier times, parades were held on New Year's Day.<ref name=carnivalterminology/> Carnival (or [[Fastelavn]] or [[Shrovetide]]) is an important celebration in [[Lutheran]], [[Anglican]] and [[Catholic]] European nations.<ref name="Melitta Weiss Adamson, Francine Segan 2008"/><ref name="ELCD2021"/>

[[File:MardiGrasDakar.JPG|right|thumb|Mardi Gras in [[Dakar]], Senegal]]
[[File:Marseille-carnival-sun-and-moon.jpg|right|thumb|Mardi Gras in [[Marseille]], France]]

===Belgium===
[[File:Binche - Les Gilles.jpg|right|thumb|Mardi Gras in [[Binche]], Belgium]]

The three-day [[Carnival of Binche]], near [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], is one of the best known in Belgium. It takes place around [[Shrove Tuesday]] (or Mardi Gras) just before [[Lent]]. Performers known as [[Gilles]] wear elaborate costumes in the [[national colours]] of red, black and yellow. During the parade, they throw [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]] at the crowd.<ref>{{cite web|title=The best Belgian folklore festivals|url=http://www.expatica.com/nl/leisure/travel_tourism/The-best-Belgian-folklore-festivals_16212.html|publisher=expatica.com|accessdate=25 November 2012}}</ref> In 2003, it was recognized by [[UNESCO]] as one of the [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]].<ref name=LP223>{{cite book|last=Cole|first=Leanne Logan & Geert|title=Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg.|year=2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|location=Footscray (Victoria)|isbn=978-1-74104-237-5|pages=223|edition=3.}}</ref>

===Czech Republic===
In the [[Czech Republic]], it is a folk tradition to celebrate Mardi Gras, which is called Masopust (meat-fast, i.e. beginning of the fast there). There are celebrations in many places including [[Prague]],<ref name=Masopust>{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3IqY-QsJgc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/p3IqY-QsJgc| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title= Mardi Gras in Bohemia-Prague |via= [[YouTube]] |access-date= 18 January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but the tradition also prevails in villages such as [[Staré Hamry]], whose door-to-door processions made it to the [[UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List]].<ref>{{cite web| title= Staročeský masopust Hamry | url=http://www.masopusthamry.cz/ | access-date= 16 December 2017 }}</ref>

===Germany===
{{main|Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria|l1=Karneval, Fasching|Swabian–Alemannic Fastnacht|l2=Fastnacht}}
The celebration on the same day in [[Germany]] knows many different terms, depending on the region, such as [[Swabian–Alemannic Fastnacht|Fastnacht]], meaning the eve of the fast that takes place during Lent, or Veilchensdienstag (Violet Tuesday), as it is called in the Lower Rhine region. The celebrations often stretch from Epiphany, known in sections of Germany as Heilige Drei Könige, through the night before Ash Wednesday, and is variously known by different names, such as [[Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria|Karneval]] or [[Fasching]] in Germany, Austria and German-speaking areas of Switzerland.  It is also often referred to as the "fifth season", which traditionally begins with Hoppeditz Erwachen (the waking of Hoppeditz, the Fool who embodies the Karneval season) on 11 November at 11:11 AM (11/11 11:11).{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} and ends with his comic funeral mass on Fastnacht.

Karneval is filled with large banquets held by the various organizing societies and generally comes to a climax beginning on what is variously known as ''Schmutziger Donnerstag'' or ''Fetter Donnerstag'' ([[Fat Thursday]]), ''Unsinniger Donnerstag'' (Nonsense Thursday), ''Altweiberfastnacht'', ''Greesentag'' and others. In [[standard German]], ''schmutzig'' means "dirty", but in the Alemannic dialects ''schmotzig'' means "lard" ([[Schmalz]]), or "fat";<ref name=Schmotzig>{{cite news |url=http://www.rontaler.ch/20330/woher-hat-der-schmutzige-donnerstag-seinen-namen |title=Woher hat der Schmutzige Donnerstag seinen Namen? |newspaper=Regionalzeitung Rontaler AG |date=17 February 2013 |language=de |access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref> thus "Greasy Thursday", as remaining winter stores of lard and butter used to be consumed at that time, before the fasting began.  Altweiberfastnacht often featured women wearing men's clothing and assuming their roles.   In many towns across the state of North Rhine Westphalia, a ritual "takeover" of the town halls by local women has become tradition.

===Italy===
In [[Italy]] Mardi Gras is called Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday).  It is the main day of [[Carnival]] along with the Thursday before, called Giovedí Grasso (Fat Thursday), which ratifies the start of the celebrations. The most famous [[Carnivals]] in northern Italy are in Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea, while in the southern part of Italy the Sardinian [[Sartiglia]] and the intriguing apotropaic masks, especially the mamuthones, issohadores, s'urtzu (and so on), are more popular, belonging to a very ancient tradition. Ivrea has the characteristic "[[Battle of the Oranges|Battle of Oranges]]" that finds its roots in medieval times.  The Italian version of the festival is spelled Carnevale.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/culturecustomsof00char|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/culturecustomsof00char/page/94 94]|quote=mardi gras in italy.|title=Culture and Customs of Italy|last=Killinger|first=Charles L.|year=2005|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0313324895}}</ref>

===Sweden===
In [[Sweden]] the celebration is called Fettisdagen, when fastlagsbulle is eaten, more commonly called [[Semla]]. The name comes from the words "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday). Originally, this was the only day one should eat [[Fastlagsbulle|fastlagsbullar]].<ref name="semla">{{cite web|title=Swedish semla: more than just a bun|work=Sweden.se|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Traditions/Reading/Swedish-semla-more-than-just-a-bun/|access-date=22 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606090150/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Traditions/Reading/Swedish-semla-more-than-just-a-bun/|archive-date=6 June 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
See [[Shrove Tuesday]].

===United States===
{{see also|Mardi Gras in the United States|Mardi Gras in Mobile|Mardi Gras in New Orleans}}

While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of historically ethnically French cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a [[French Catholic]] tradition with the Le Moyne brothers,<ref name=MGtime>
   "New Orleans & Mardi Gras History Timeline
" (event list),
   Mardi Gras Digest, 2005, webpage:
   {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101124195528/http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/html/mardi_gras_history__timeline.htm MG-time]}}
</ref> [[Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville]] and [[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville]], in the late 17th century, when King [[Louis XIV]] sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of ''[[Louisiana (New France)|Louisiane]]'', which included what are now the U.S. states of [[Alabama]], [[Mississippi]], [[Louisiana]] and part of eastern [[Texas]].<ref name=MGtime/>

The expedition, led by Iberville, entered the mouth of the [[Mississippi River]] on the evening of 2 March 1699 (new style), [[Lundi Gras]]. They did not yet know it was the river explored and claimed for France by [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]] in 1683. The party proceeded upstream to a place on the east bank about {{convert|60|mi|km|sigfig=1}} downriver from where [[New Orleans]] is today, and made camp. This was on 3 March 1699, Mardi Gras, so in honour of this holiday, Iberville named the spot ''Point du Mardi Gras'' (French: "Mardi Gras Point") and called the nearby tributary Bayou Mardi Gras.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-mardi-gras|title=9 Things You May Not Know About Mardi Gras|work=History.com|access-date=17 August 2017}}</ref>

[[Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville|Bienville]] went on to found the settlement of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] (now in Alabama) in 1702 as the first capital of French Louisiana.<ref name=TLhist>
   "Timeline 18th Century:" (events),
   Timelines of History, 2007, webpage:
   [http://timelines.ws/1700_1724.HTML TLine-1700-1724]:
   on "1702–1711" of Mobile.
</ref> In 1703 French settlers in Mobile established the [[Mardi Gras in Mobile|first organised Mardi Gras]] celebration tradition in what was to become the United States.<ref name=MGtime/><ref name=MoMtime>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/timeline.php |title=Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline |work=Museum of Mobile |access-date=18 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=LOCgras>
   "Mardi Gras in Mobile" (history),
   [[Jeff Sessions]], Senator, [[Library of Congress]], 2006, webpage:
   [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/legacies/AL/200002665.html LibCongress-2665].
</ref><ref name=MBAYgras>
   "Mardi Gras" (history),
   Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2007, webpage:
   [http://www.mobile.org/ab_mardigras.php/ab_mardigras_history.php MGmobile].
</ref> The first informal [[mystic society]], or [[krewe]], was formed in Mobile in 1711, the ''Boeuf Gras Society''.<ref name=MoMtime/> Then came the [[Striker's Independent Society]] in 1842, followed by the oldest parading mystic society the [[Order of Myths]] or "OOMs" in 1867.

In 1720, [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]] had been made capital of Louisiana. The French Mardi Gras customs had accompanied the colonists who settled there.<ref name=MGtime/>

[[File:Mobile Mardi Gras 2010 48.jpg|thumb|Knights of Revelry parade down Royal Street in Mobile during the 2010 Mardi Gras season.]]
In 1723, the capital of Louisiana was moved to [[New Orleans]], founded in 1718.<ref name=TLhist/> The first Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans is recorded to have taken place in 1833 with [[Bernard de Marigny]] funding the first organized parade, tableau, and ball. The tradition in New Orleans expanded to the point that it became synonymous with the city in popular perception, and embraced by residents of New Orleans beyond those of French or Catholic heritage. Mardi Gras celebrations are part of the basis of the slogan ''[[Laissez les bons temps rouler]]'' ("Let the good times roll"), as floats "roll".<ref name=MGtime/>{{failed verification|date=February 2014}}

Festivities formally began in 1853 when a group of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Anglo-Americans]], some members of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] [[Mystic society|Mystic Societies]], formed the first "old-line" krewe, The [[Mistick Krewe of Comus]], based on [[Bernard de Marigny]]'s 1833 parade of paper-mached wagons, a formal [[tableau vivant]] and presentation of debutants, followed by a formal [[Ball (dance event)|ball]]. The [[Twelfth Night Revelers]] were formed in 1870, again with ties to [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], but no longer stage a parade, just tableau and ball. The [[Knights of Momus]] and [[Rex parade|Rex]] came about in 1872, with the last of the old-line krewes the [[Krewe of Proteus]] being formed 10 years later. Of these 5 groups only Rex and Proteus still formally parade, with the [[Knights of Chaos]] replacing Momus.

The parades of the largest krewes (colloquially known as "super krewes") came later, during the 1960s/70's, and traditionally occur immediately prior to and on Shrove Tuesday, including those of [[Krewe of Endymion|Endymion]] (Saturday, which also culminates with a concert event at [[Caesars Superdome]]), [[Krewe of Bacchus|Bacchus]] (Sunday), and [[Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club|Zulu]] and [[Rex parade|Rex]] (Tuesday).

Other cities along the Gulf Coast with early French colonial heritage, from [[Pensacola, Florida]], and [[Galveston, Texas]], to [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]] and [[Lafayette, Louisiana]], and north to [[Natchez, Mississippi]], and [[Alexandria, Louisiana]], have active Mardi Gras celebrations.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Galveston's first recorded Mardi Gras celebration, in 1867, included a masked ball at Turner Hall (Sealy at 21st St.) and a theatrical performance from Shakespeare's "King Henry IV" featuring Alvan Reed (a justice of the peace weighing in at 350 pounds) as Falstaff. The first year that Mardi Gras was celebrated on a grand scale in Galveston was 1871 with the emergence of two rival Mardi Gras societies, or "Krewes" called the Knights of Momus (known only by the initials "K.O.M.") and the Knights of Myth, both of which devised night parades, masked balls, exquisite costumes and elaborate invitations. The Knights of Momus, led by some prominent Galvestonians, decorated horse-drawn wagons for a torch lit night parade. Boasting such themes as "The Crusades", "Peter the Great", and "Ancient France", the procession through downtown Galveston culminated at Turner Hall with a presentation of tableaux and a grand gala.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In the rural [[Acadiana]] area, many [[Cajuns]] celebrate with the ''[[Courir de Mardi Gras]]'', a tradition that dates to medieval celebrations in France.<ref>{{cite book| title= Capitaine, voyage ton flag : The Traditional Cajun Country Mardi Gras| author= Barry Jean Ancelet| author-link= Barry Jean Ancelet| publisher= Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana| date= 1989| isbn= 0-940984-46-6| url= https://archive.org/details/capitainevoyaget00ance}}</ref>

[[St. Louis, Missouri]], founded in 1764 by French fur traders, claims to host the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/best-places-celebrate-mardi-gras-outside-new-orleans-180954286/|title=Best Places to Celebrate Mardi Gras Outside of New Orleans|last=Geiling|first=Natasha|work=Smithsonian|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref> The celebration is held in the historic French neighborhood, [[Soulard, St. Louis|Soulard]], and attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around the country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-mardi-gras-celebrations-not-in-new-orleans-20170131-story.html|title=7 big Mardi Gras celebrations (not in New Orleans)|last=Houser|first=Dave G.|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref> Although founded in the 1760s, the St. Louis Mardi Gras festivities only date to the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web| title= Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood | url= http://www.allaboutmardigras.com/Features/soulardhistory.html |website= allaboutmardigras.com | access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref> The city's celebration begins with "12th night", held on Epiphany, and ends on Fat Tuesday. The season is peppered with various parades celebrating the city's rich French Catholic heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlmardigras.org/events/12th-night|title=12th Night {{!}} Soulard Mardi Gras 2018 |place= St. Louis, MO|website=stlmardigras.org|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref>
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