*** Quoting Alex Polevoy from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***


 AP>> What is Mardi Gras??

 CS> Mardi Gras is a celebration of life,

AP> Some kind of Festival in Rio? 8)

Grin, sounds like it!  But no.  This is in Louisiana USA.

 CS> costumes with lots Hof glitter and dance all through the streets.

AP> But in what occasion this party begins?

I do not know where the origions came from other than 'probably France' and
¨something they had, that was 'Americanized' into a unique celebration of
it's ¨own.  Mardi Gras is known world-wide but celebrated only in New
Orleans as far ¨as I know.

College students in other parts of the USA often have a 'mardi gras' party
¨about the same time but those are just an excuse for a regular college
student ¨party .

I am sure where you live there are all sorts of local events and
celebrations. ¨When I lived in Texas, the city of Poteet had an annual
strawberry festival ¨that was locally famous and lots of fun.  San Antonio
Texas has it's annual ¨'Fiesta' which is held about the same time as Mardi
Gras and involves a huge ¨parade about the famous 'Alamo' (a military base
that was over-run by the ¨Mexican army but sparked the Texans into the
unique set that they are).
                                       xxcarol

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