Fat Tuesday at CWU

Story by Emma CrowE, Class of 2023 Design by Jaclyn Perry, Class of 2023

Mardi Gras at CWU

CWU’s Mardi Gras celebration, sponsored by Campus Activities, is being held on February 25 at 9 p.m. in the SURC Ballroom. With music from your very own campus DJ’s, it is sure to be a fun night! Celebrate the night away while indulging with treats, fun giveaways and 88.1 The 'Burg.

History of Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, also known as Carnival, has a rich and interesting history. The holiday was initially a Pagan celebration of springtime and fertility. However, this changed when an influx of Christians entered Rome. Upon their arrival, the celebration was reworked as an event leading up to Lent, a 40-day-long season of fasting that usually begins on Ash Wednesday. Naturally, this celebration took place on Tuesday. It’s a time to listen to music and gorge on great food before the season of fasting begins. Everyone knows this celebration as Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday”.

The Meaning of Color

The colors of Mardi Gras (purple, green, and gold) don’t date back to the inception of the celebration. The renowned colors came along years later. It wasn’t until 1872 that the colors were selected to honor a guest of the King of Carnival in New Orleans. Each color has its own meaning: Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. Think about the meaning of the colors as you incorporate them into your Mardi Gras outfit this year.

Dressing for the Occasion

Mardi Gras outfits are known for being elaborate. Costume designers around the world spend all year working on costumes for clients. It’s never too early to start designing your Mardi Gras costume!

When coming up with your outfit, don’t forget a mask! Half the fun of a Mardi Gras ball is the secretive atmosphere the masks provide. Once used to conceal identities, it’s now a fun tradition to consider when prepping for the celebration.

It Isn’t Called Fat Tuesday for Nothing

A classic Mardi Gras treat is the King Cake, a circular cake with a mini baby figurine baked somewhere inside. The tradition is that if the figurine, which represents baby Jesus, is in your slice of cake, then you are crowned royalty that evening. Finding the figurine is a symbol of good luck and prosperity, the reward for finding the figurine in your slice may also vary depending on familial tradition and interpretation.

The Sound of Mardi Gras

You can’t have Mardi Gras without music! Celebrating Mardi Gras, odds are you will find trumpets and other brass instruments blazing through any parade or ball. Playing music in a jazz tune or other upbeat melodies are a major component of the celebration of spring and life.

New Orleans may ring familiar to you when you think of Mardi Gras. This is possibly because New Orleans is considered to have the world’s largest celebration. What once began as an elegant ballroom dance has evolved into parades and celebrations in the streets of New Orleans and beyond; even with Wildcats at Central Washington University.