Fat Tuesday The 2021 Idaho Edition Plus Some Fun Facts

Here we are on Fat Tuesday a day which is notorious for debauchery beyond belief. Okay I get it, In Boise Idaho during a pandemic we probably shouldn't expect a major celebration, however there is a family event taking place in the Sapphire Room at The Riverside Hotel, 2900 Chinden Blvd Boise, ID. The festivities start at 6pm and feature the Billy Blues Band. The event is put on by the Boise Blues Society and will be observing all CDC guidelines.

But what about New Orleans? Gov. John Bel Edwards put all doubts to rest at a news conference recently:

“If people think they’re going to come to Louisiana, anywhere, or New Orleans and engage in the kind of activities they would have pre-pandemic then they are mistaken and quite frankly they are not welcome here to do that,”

Considering that there will be no shenanigans this Fat Tuesday I thought I would share some Fat Tuesday fun facts compliments of goodhousekeeping.com that we might actually remember since we're not partaking in adult beverages this time around.

The Term 'Mardi Gras' Doesn't Mean What You Think it Does

Mardi Gras is the culmination of carnival celebrations before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. The term Mardi Gras only refers to the final day, also known as Fat Tuesday.

NOLA Has Been Celebrating for Almost 200 Years

The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was held in 1838.

It's Very Popular

Around 1.4 million people visit New Orleans during carnival season.

It Begins on Epiphany

Carnival season in New Orleans officially kicks off every year on Twelfth Night (which marks the Epiphany) when a group called the Phunny Phorty Phellows rides down St. Charles in a streetcar throwing out the first beads.

There are More Parades Than You Would Think

There are over 70 parades held throughout the New Orleans metropolitan area during carnival season.

There's a Special Greeting

"Laissez les bon temps rouler" means "let the good times roll" in Cajun French, which seems appropriate.

There Are Family Friendly Sections

Despite it's reputation for debauchery, you can find relatively calm celebrations uptown. Just avoid the French Quarter.

Dogs Can Get in on the Fun

New Orleans, Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Northshore doggies get their own parades

There's a History Behind the Colors

Purple, gold, and green are the official Mardi Gras colors. They were selected by Rex Krewe to honor visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff because they were his family colors.

Purple

The color purple represents justice.

Gold

The gold color symbolizes power.

Green

And finally, green is used to represent faith.

Hopefully next year Fat Tuesday is back to normal, until then at lest we can say we've learned something.