French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

© f11photo/Getty Image

Happy Mardi Gras!. New Orleans for Mardi Gras

Welcome to Mardi Gras! This festivity marks the end of Carnival season, which is observed in many countries. Mardi Gras is especially big here in New Orleans, where it has been celebrated since the 18th century. Today, the streets of New Orleans will be filled with raucous Mardi Gras parades led by social clubs called 'krewes.' Krewe members atop the floats throw beads and trinkets to cheering crowds along the sidewalks.

Mardi Gras means 'Fat Tuesday' in French. It refers to the enjoyment of typically decadent foods before the start of 40 traditional days of fasting that go with the season of Lent in the Christian calendar.