Laissez Les Bon Temp Rouler!
Laissez Les Bon Temp Rouler! It means, let the good times roll! And it’s a common phrase that you hear on Mardi Gras each year, which is today.
Mardi Gras is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and the words Mardi Gras translate to Fat Tuesday. Since Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, today is the day that people live it up, eating a lot of junk food and drinking a lot of alcohol. In fact, tonight at midnight in New Orleans, the streets will go quiet right at midnight. It’s almost eerie!
Mardi Gras is also marks the end of the Carnival season. Many countries have been celebrating Carnival since January 6th.
In places like Canada, New Zealand, Australia and and the UK, Mardi Gras is also known as Pancake Day because people celebrate by making pancakes and having pancake themed fun.
The official colors of Mardi Gras are green gold and purple. Green for faith, gold for power, and purple for justice.
The reason so many people wear masks on Mardi Gras is so that they can be free to completely express themselves without being recognized. In some places it’s even illegal to ride on a float without a mask!
Many people also celebrate today as paczki day, by eating a type of pastry that is like a filled donut.
How are you celebrating Mardi Gras? Let me know in the comments, and Let The Good Times Roll!