with Margaret Margaret is a ten-year-old girl with hearing aids
who loves rock climbing, arts and crafts, and reading Hearing Our Way. Margaret lives in New Orleans, Louisiana with her mom, dad, older brother Connor, little sisters Lyla and Mary Grace, and puppy Quigley. Did you know that New Orleans is considered the home of Mardi Gras? Margaret’s here to tell you all about it.
What is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras is a fun holiday celebration where family and friends come together to celebrate before Lent. It started a long time ago and has been part of New Orleans since the city was founded.
When is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras isn’t always on the same day each year. It usually falls in February or March, 47 days before Easter. Fat Tuesday is always on the day before Ash Wednesday, but in New Orleans, we don’t celebrate just one day—our celebrations go on for weeks! Mardi Gras season actually starts in January here.
What do people in New Orleans do for Mardi Gras? There are lots of parties, fancy balls, and parades. Kids in New Orleans get six whole days off of school to celebrate. We go to lots of parades with our friends, and we eat a special cake called King Cake every Friday at school. People wear lots of fun costumes, and sometimes we like to paint our faces.
What is your favorite parade? My favorite parade is called Muses. It is one of the most famous parades. I also really like the parades that take place at night because the krewes (people in the parade) throw lots of glow in the dark things like beads, balls, and toys. All the kids wave to the floats and yell, “Throw me something, Mister!” After the parades, we like to go home and trade with each other.
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Top: Margaret loves rock climbing. Bottom: Mardi Gras is fun for the whole family. Right: The night parades are some of Margaret’s favorites.
