Colorful parades, music, and celebrations marked the start of Mardi Gras around the world February 9 to 13. Originating as a Roman tradition in Medieval Europe, the holiday has developed into a global celebration filled with vibrant parties and revelry. Senior Eileen Igoe at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, Louisiana shared the unique Mardi Gras traditions that her school celebrates.
The history of Mardi Gras began with Ancient Pagan Roman festivals that medieval Europeans held in anticipation of spring. With the rise of the Church in Ancient Rome, Christian teachings spread and blended with traditional Roman religious practices, according to catholic.org. European Christians in the Middle Ages adopted Mardi Gras as a way to mark the start of Lent and prepare for the fasting period, according to collinstreet.com.
In North America, settlers first celebrated this holiday March 2, 1699. Explorer Mr. Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville brought the tradition to the continent while looking to establish a French colony along the Mississippi River. He arrived 60 miles south of New Orleans and, after realizing it was the day before the celebration, named it Pointe du Mardi Gras, according to time.com.
Various cities around the world have unique Mardi Gras traditions. The city of New Orleans holds elaborate galas where attendants wear masks to escape societal expectations. This event began in the 1740s when the governor of Louisiana established these balls. In 1857, Mardi Gras parades began, marking the beginning of themed floats in parades. Today, there are about 35 different parades in New Orleans for this festivity, according to time.com.
Over 50 countries celebrate Mardi Gras annually with an abundance of brass bands, parades, king cakes, beaded necklaces, and day-long festivities. New Orleans remains a central location for Mardi Gras celebrations, attracting more than one million visitors each year for the occasion, according to collinstreet.com. Eileen looks forward to Mardi Gras celebrations each year with both her school and her family. She commented on her favorite tradition that her family holds each year and its significance.
“My family’s favorite Mardi Gras tradition is trying different types of king cake,” Eileen said. “King cake is a huge part of Mardi Gras, and you can only get it during Mardi Gras season. There are countless different king cakes each different and unique with a plastic baby on the inside. If you get a slice of king cake with the baby in it, that means you have to buy the next king cake. During Mardi Gras season, every week my family buys a king cake from a new bakery and whoever gets the baby gets to pick from what bakery we get our next king cake.”
As a student at the Academy of Sacred Hearts in New Orleans, Eileen celebrates long-lasting traditions that contribute to the momentousness of this holiday for the school. She discussed some of the unique and sentimental events that her school holds each year in celebration of Mardi Gras.
“The biggest tradition our school has for Mardi Gras is Krewe of Fluff, which is a parade that the seniors put on every year the day before our Mardi Gras break,” Eileen said. “Every year they pick a different theme. Last year’s theme was dinosaur-themed and all of the seniors wore inflatable dinosaur costumes and threw beads, stuffed animals, and more to the rest of the school.”
Beyond her school, the entirety of New Orleans turns into a celebratory and vibrant place for the holiday. Eileen reflected on the significance of Mardi Gras for the city of New Orleans as well as the Academy of the Sacred Heart.
“New Orleans is a very Catholic city and Mardi Gras is a huge celebration before we enter the season of Lent,” Eileen said. “As a Catholic school, we recognize the importance of celebrating our blessings with friends and family before we enter the penitential season of Lent. Our school is also on the parade route so we feel the spirit of Mardi Gras.”
Featured Image by Avery Quake ’26
