Mardi Gras beads in the Marigny, New Orleans

© Erik Pronske Photography/Getty Image

Let the good times roll!. Mardi Gras

Get ready to revel—Mardi Gras is here! Also called Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, the holiday was originally celebrated to live life to the fullest before fasting and giving up other indulgences for Lent. For some, it's just an excuse to party.

Fat Tuesday celebrations take place around the world, particularly in areas with strong French influences. New Orleans is particularly linked with the festival and hosts a massive celebration that can last up to eight weeks, depending on when Easter falls. Mardi Gras parades are held from the official start of Mardi Gras on King's Day, January 6. Social clubs, known as krewes, hold parades on assigned schedules and routes. Crowds gather along the way, hoping to catch coins, cups, and beads thrown by float riders, a tradition that started in the 1880s. Ready to make merry and join the parade?