The reason I am writing to you is that I now know what we are going to do when you come over here. We are going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and we will have the experience of our lives on Bourbon Street, party street number one. Now you must be thinking, "What is Mardi Gras?" Do not worry. Be patient and you will find out.
The word "Mardi Gras" is French for "Fat Tuesday," which is also called "Shrove Tuesday," a day for parades, masking and parties. It was created as a period of merriment and celebrations to allow Christians to fatten up before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Mardi Gras). The season leading up to Mardi Gras is called "Carnival," which is Latin for "farewell to the flesh" (Mardi Gras New Orleans).
The New Orleans version of Mardi Gras came to North America from Paris, where it had been celebrated since the Middle Ages. In 1699, French Explorer Iberville and his men came down the Mississippi River and camped on the river's bank. Knowing Mardi Gras, March 2nd, was being celebrated in France, they christened their campsite "Pointe du Mardi Gras" (Mardi Gras New Orleans).
Mardi Gras is called "the greatest free show on earth." The huge expense of each year's parade is covered by dues paid by its members and organized fund raisers. The krewes design their own floats, costumes, ball, etc (New Orleans Tour Guide).
"Non-stop sensory pleasures" and "good times," are words you often relate to carnival activities on Bourbon Street. Carnival on the Gulf Coast actually began on a totally different location, namely Biloxi, Mississippi. Biloxi was the French capital of New Orleans, before the seat of the government was moved to New Orleans (http://bourbonstreet.com/history.htm). .
Bourbon Street, which was the first street in New Orleans, was planned by the French Engineer Adrien de Pauger. The founders of the city named the street Bourbon Street in honor of the Bourbons, who were the ruling dynasty at the time (http://bourbonstreet.