You do understand the history of it in the religious sense, right? It's not part of the religious celebration, it is preparing for it. It's the last day of not being religious for the next 40 days. Not sure how many Catholics, which I am kinda one, celebrate the religious part any more. At least in the US.
Yes it is a different vibe. Uptown is completely different than downtown or the quarter. Just like parades in Metairie, Slidell, Covington, mandeville, and West Bank are too. But it's really about the culture of it, traditions, and weeks of the carnival period not just "Mardi Gras" lots of other parties, balls, different functions with the office or friends. I get it. It's not for everyone. I know several that go on vacation to get away from it during week of actual Mardi Gras. It's celebrated in south Louisiana more than Christmas is. I know more folks that get more excited about Mardigras than any other holiday or season. Just a culture thing.
I think I am just a mountain type of guy. Are all those pageants and shlt in Natchez part of it? Just not my vibe, never understood it.
Beagle Bagel is my go-to in the Jackson area. I haven’t had one from Costco, but those Costco hot dogs are about as good as a hot dog gets.
They do have that as part of of the krews with courts but also a lot of tailgating drinking food music chilling partying hanging out with friends parades.
Born and raised in Natchez, though I don’t live there anymore. I always enjoyed going to the MG parades, but never got into all of the balls and everything else that was involved with it. Not my thing.
That's not cold, that's absolute zero.
I get it. I hear all about the food but when I go to the restaurants, it’s decent, but just not my sort of thing. I actually like the sandwiches best at the Butcher, and that’s not really NOLA food in the basic sense.
"I get on the waitlist every time and never get one."
O&H bakery has great Kringles throughout the year and King Cakes at Mardi Gras
King Cake=glorified dry-*** cinnamon roll with colorful icing and a choking hazard. But king cake lovers, carry on. No one ever heard of one in 98% of Mississippi pre 1999. Same goes for crawfish.
It’s the last day before fasting. Not not being religious. Who ever heard of drinking and feasting being not religious other than Baptists?
Honestly, a lot of it is just taking low quality ingredients and overseasoning the hell out of it.
Go to urban south at 11 am every day but Tuesday. Or you can go to bouree on Carrollton. I've had no trouble getting one last two weeks from reseller. They post resellers on their site. Snoball place in Kenner and zuppardos in Metairie have them. Couple places north shore and on the gulf coast.
You sound like you've only seen a couple of versions of king cake. Most of the ones I buy aren't caked with icing. There also different types like ones that are brioche bread style or pastry style king cakes. You can order them some places without icing and sprinkles too
Starts kings day 12th day of Christmas. Jan 6. Ends 40 days before Easter for lent. Repenting period after the carnival period of partying/feasting before lent. Fish fry Fridays during lent. Mardigras or Fat Tuesday last chance to party before Ash Wednesday.
Appreciate the info. Wasn't thrilled with the idea of hanging out on Chef Menteur waiting on Dong to open the doors.
It's not too bad actually out that far. Like a little Vietnamese village in the swamp. Not sure what time bouree has them. I just know urban south is like a 11 and place in Slidell has them. Lot of places use their bread so they get cakes too. Zuppardos I think it's luck of the draw.
I'm not sure if you're trying to tell me it's a time of not being religious or not. I don't think we disagree. Lent is the long fast before Easter which is a feast day.
I always open to a new experience. Those sound pretty great.
I think I misread your post but was trying to help those that don't seem to understand the tradition and the timing and the religious tie in to the season. That's all
It's only "not being religious" if you only consider fasting during lent as "being religious."
I think it's just another Facebook moment for many Mississippians outside the Coast and a few other places. And obviously there are a ton of LA folks that have moved into the Sip, but I'm talking about the same ole same ole folks in Jackson and some other places.
Ive had their Kringle and Mardi Gras. They're good! The bakery in Alexandria, LA (makes escapes me) has a good King Cake. Maurice's is solid.
Why else would you fast during lent unless you are observing lent? Just for the fun of it?
I think you misunderstood. I mean that you can be religious other times other than fasting during lent. Feasting and having a good time is not irreligious is my point.
When I said that, I didn't mean for this to go off the religion deep end. Just observing the fact that Mardi Gras is directly tied to Catholicism. I am not a Catholic, but I do respect it, and reasonings behind Mardi Gras, Lent, etc. That's what I meant.
