3 minute read
Mardi Gras falls on a Monday
French food, beads provide special extra glitz and glam
Cynthia Garcia, Michaia Hernandez / Roundup
Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday.”
The French Club lived up to the meaning when they hosted Pierce College’s first “Pre-Mardi Gras” festival Monday.
The club provided homemade Cajun foods like jambalaya, crepes and King Cake; a round cinnamon- roll like cake with colorful sugary icing that was imported from Louisiana. Pierce student Michelle Basche was impressed with the tarot card reading.
“I think the tarot cards are the most fun,” said Basche. “Very New Orleans.”
Gabrielle Mellibosky, French Club president, said the event was essentially a parody of the real New Orleans celebrations.
“We are the French Club, and Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans which has a huge French history,” he said.
Mellibosky added that this historical celebration has never been brought to Pierce and is excited to make it the club’s first big event of the semester.
The club captured the Mardi Gras party scene with colorful décor, including images of masks, poster drawings of places in France, and lively music (both American and European).
The party provided henna tattoo, face painting, raffle tickets, and beads.
Beads were granted to people who purchased food or participated in any of the activitie. The male and female with the most beads were crowned Mardi Gras King and Queen.
Winners of the royal titles were Ana Bautista who won with 27 beads and Steven Claude who won with 20.
All the activities were free and food and beverages were priced at one dollar or less.
The guests weren’t the only ones able to join the fun; all members from the French Club were allowed to participate and run for prizes.
Demetrio Landeros, recent French club member said he became interested in getting involved.
“I’m pretty excited about being in the club. I’m not a French major but I would like to learn more,” he said.
A new batch of hot food, cake, and fresh coffee was brought out for the guests that joined the event in its last hours.
The second half of the event had a very lively group willing to participate in a Macarena dance and unexpected balloon fight.
The raffle winner, Pierce student Matt Watkins, took home an old-time record player.
“We have a budget of, I believe $900 for this event,” said Mellibosky. “We are planning on asking the school to give us $300.”
French club treasurer, Jonathan Fackler estimated a $600 profit. “We hope to make this Mardi Gras celebration an annual thing,” said Fackler. “We had a wonderful turnout today.”
Some students like Nathan Schroeder were enlightened by the event.
“I didn’t know much about Cajun food before today” said Schroeder. Many people who stopped by the celebration agreed it was well planned.
“I was actually born and raised in New Orleans . . . this is the closest thing I have to home,” said Emerald Ivy.
