Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans

Mardi Gras 2015, the annual carnival in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, will be held on February 17 — this is the date this year falls ‘fat Tuesday", the last day before the beginning of lent.

Carnival celebrations will start according to the tradition, two weeks before the main parade, namely on 6 February. According to the organizers, during the entire period each day will be held costumed processions, music and dance parties.

Each parade will be decorated in themed, so costumes, decorations and makeup of participants, and also by mobile platforms and the carnival figures will be themed.

Every ceremonial procession will be organized separate carnival club (krewes) New Orleans. Between the krewes of the city for many years is a struggle — they compete in complexity and unusual design platforms, as well as in the brightness and originality of the costumes on the participants of the procession.

In New Orleans there is a tradition that during the movement of the carnival of platforms on city streets guests of the festival attract the attention of the marchers with cries of “give us something!”. It is almost a ritual phrase, in response to which the audience typically favors Mardi Gras — tin doubloons, beads, and various trinkets and coconuts.