What is Mardi Gras?

After finishing The Seamstress of New Orleans and experiencing the city for ourselves, one thing became very clear—Mardi Gras isn’t just a day or an event. It’s a way of life. From the moment we stepped off the plane, reminders of the festival were everywhere: airport decorations, signs at car rental counters, and beads hanging from balconies long after the parades had ended.

(Photo: We took this photo Sunday morning after all the wild parties were done. During the day, you can see the beautiful architecture and decorations on the balcony.  At night there were people having a grand time throwing beads into the streets. The French Quarters was definitely an experience!) 

Reading the book, we loved how this short passage captured the spirit of Mardi Gras:

"Alice saw the continued concern on his face. She felt a need to divert him. ‘I beg your pardon, Mr. White, but what is Mardi Gras?’
"Oh, Mardi Gras. It’s quite a festival, I believe. In New Orleans, each year to begin the season of Lent. Lots of fancy costumes and ball dresses. Apparently, the day before Ash Wednesday, before examining your sins and giving something up for forty days, you spent that ‘Fat Tuesday’—that’s the translation—to give yourself enough sins to examine.” He chuckled, cleared his throat. ‘At least that’s how I understand the tradition.’"

After walking down Bourbon Street, we can confidently say—this description was spot on! The energy, the extravagance, and the feeling that everyone is fully embracing indulgence before the start of Lent were undeniable. And it was still weeks before Lent... We can only imagine what the city would be like on actual Mardi Gras.  We saw many paintings and photos of what various neighborhoods would be like on that day. Oh my...

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Mardi Gras: More Than Just a Party

Before our trip, we had a basic understanding of Mardi Gras: parades, beads, and wild celebrations. But being in New Orleans made us realize it’s so much more. It’s about tradition, history, and community. The elaborate floats, the masked balls, the music filling the streets—it all felt like stepping into a different world, one where joy and excess are embraced wholeheartedly. While walking around, we saw people transporting shells of floats, getting them ready for decorating! 

One thing we loved was learning about the different krewes—organizations that put together th

e parades and balls. Each krewe has its own history, themes, and traditions. Some, like the Krewe of Rex, have been around since the 19th century, while others bring a more modern and satirical twist to the festivities.

Bourbon Street: The Heartbeat of the Celebration

Walking down Bourbon Street just on a non-eventful weekend was an experience unlike any other. The neon lights, the sound of live jazz spilling out from every bar, the smell of beignets and spicy Cajun food in the air—it was sensory overload in the best way possible. We were amazed.

People from all walks of life gathered, decked out in colorful masks and costumes, tossing beads from balconies and dancing in the streets. There was a certain magic to it, a feeling that anything was possible in this city that never seems to sleep. Each bar was trying to play music louder than the next.  None had a cover charge; this was the ultimate place for bar hopping. We could not even imagine the party to be even bigger...

A Tradition We Won’t Forget

Reading The Seamstress of New Orleans before visiting was the perfect introduction to the history and culture of the city. Mardi Gras isn’t just about one wild night—it’s about centuries of tradition, a mix of French, Spanish, and Creole influences, and a city that knows how to celebrate life like no other.

If you’ve ever considered experiencing Mardi Gras (or any weekend) in New Orleans, we highly recommend it. Whether you go for the parades, the history, or just to soak up the energy of the city, it’s something you’ll never forget. Laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll!

(Photo: We took this photo towards the end of the Burbon Street.  We were so overwhelmed by the amount of activity, packed streets, and party people that we were just looking left to right, at all the people spilling out of the bars that we were quite comfortable taking photos at the moment.  It wasn't until we got to the end, where the party started to die down, these were smaller shops and restaurants hub, that we wanted to pull our camera out. It was only 5 pm and people were already into full on party mode.)