King Cake, Mardi Gras, and Beads

What are you planning for Fat Tuesday? Perhaps a better question would be what is Fat Tuesday? Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras, which is the festival that made New Orleans, Louisiana, very famous. Just in case you don't speak French, I'll break it down for you. "Gras" is French for fat and "Mardi" is French for Tuesday. Fat Tuesday as it's known in American culture is to some an unofficial celebration, however, it is widely recognized by those of the Catholic denomination of Christianity who view this event as very official, and by other Christian denominations of Christianity that fasts for Lent during that same time, excluding however, Eastern and or Oriental (Asian) Orthodox denominations.

Fat Tuesday is a colorful festive annual event beginning on January 6, the Twelfth Night Feast of the Epiphany, when the three Kings visited the Christ Child. The history and stories on how this festive event begins spans back many years. For example, in the eastern Alps, a tradition called Perchtenlaufen exists; and two to three hundred masked young men would rush about the streets with whips and bells driving out evil spirits. In Nuremberg until 1616, it was the children whom frightened away spirits by running through the streets knocking loudly on doors.

In some countries, and in the Catholic religion worldwide, the Twelfth Night and Epiphany mark the start of the Carnival season, which usually last through to Mardi Gras Day. However, in modern American Carnival tradition, Mardi Gras shines most brightly in New Orleans, where friends tend to gather for weekly King Cake parties. It was and still is widely known that whoever gets the slice of King Cake usually in the form of a miniature baby doll symbolic of the Christ Child; host the next week's party.

Today in Houston, Texas along with its lovely seaside city of Galveston, Texas the term Fat Tuesday is a really big deal having made their mark as contenders for an amazing Fat Tuesday celebration.
Imagine for a moment a day of fun, frolic, and comic masquerading. All of the mischief of the city is alive and wide awake in active operation. Men and boys, women and girls, bond and free, white and black, yellow and brown, exert themselves to invent and appear in grotesque, quizzical, diabolic, horrible, strange masks, and disguises. Human bodies are seen with heads of beasts and birds, beasts and birds with human heads; demi-beasts, demi-fishes, snakes' heads and bodies with arms of apes; man-bats from the moon; mermaids; satyrs, beggars, monks, and robbers parade and march on foot, on horseback, in wagons, carts, coaches, cars, and in rich confusion, up and down the streets, wildly shouting, singing, laughing, drumming, fiddling, and all throwing flour while they broadcast screams in high pitch as they wend their reckless way. This is how I would describe Mardi Gras for those of you whom have never been. I've attended both in New Orleans and in Houston's seaside city of Galveston and I marveled at how magical Galveston made the festivities.

The food and drink is the center of the celebration in today's modern times, along with most of the traditional foods that go back for many centuries. The punch called wassail is consumed especially on Twelfth Night, and throughout Christmas time, especially in the UK. Around the world, special pastries, such as the tortell and King Cake are baked on Twelfth Night, and eaten the following day for the Feast of the Epiphany Celebrations. In English and French custom, the Twelfth-cake was baked to contain a bean and a pea, so that those who received the slices containing them should be designated King and Queen of the night's festivities. The celebration of Fat Tuesday is filled with interesting history that I'm sure you will benefit in knowing. For example, the celebration of Mardi Gras was brought to Louisiana by early French settlers, and the first record of the holiday being celebrated in Louisiana was at the mouth of the Mississippi River in what is now lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on March 3, 1699. Iberville, Bienville, and their men celebrated it as part of an observance of Catholic practice.

No one really knows the exact starting date of festivities in New Orleans, However there is an account from 1743 when the custom of Carnival balls was already established; and processions and wearing of masks in the streets on Mardi Gras took place. To help you find the perfect place for Fat Tuesday, I've listed the top and certainly the best places in Houston, Texas and neighboring seaside Galveston which is fifty miles just outside Houston.

The First Family of New Orleans exports their Fat Tuesday festivities to the Crown Jewel of Texas
When Brennan's of Houston reopened last year they were the talk of Houston. From the social elite to the hard hat and the Mom's with babies; everybody wanted to get a table in Brennan's of Houston. Executive chef Danny Trace, a Veteran of the Commander's Palace Family of Restaurants serves dishes that are part of Brennan's heritage as well as new classic's. This Southern culinary gem, has received Awards such as Exxon Mobil's Four-Star designation in 2000, and a nod from restaurant reporter John Mariani in 1997, who called former Executive Chef and General Manager Carl Walker one of America's most influential chefs. To celebrate Fat Tuesday guest will dance their beads off at the greatest New Orleans-style Mardi Gras celebration outside the Crescent City. Enjoy Nola Royalty and Host Alex Brennan-Martin at this Big Easy fais do-do on March 8, 2011 complete with float, beads, specialty cocktail, Texas Creole seasonal favorites, including King Cake that is guaranteed to be the most authentic celebration in Houston. For $65.00 per person, you can enjoy an evening of fun on Fat Tuesday and remember reservations are recommended or visit Brennan's of Houston.

Does Mardi Gras Exist in Galveston?
Who has 5 masked Balls, 13 Balcony Parties 18 Parades, and 26 Concerts for Fat Tuesday? Galveston, Texas. Let there be no doubt during Mardi Gras in Galveston, the island comes alive with excitement and extravagant parades, 50 galas festive events, bead throwing, exhibits, live entertainment and the best Gulf Coast cuisine in the world. Every year during Mardi Gras, Galveston takes on new life and form, but this year's Fat Tuesday will be the exception. Rich in history, Mardi Gras Galveston is celebrating its 100th event in 2011. I've attended Mardi Gras in Galveston, and it is amazing and festive indeed. This year's event will top them all and the island is expecting people from all over the nation.

To celebrate the 100th event there will be eight new parades, headliner music, entertainment stages and a ticketed entrance to the island's historic Uptown Entertainment District where the majority of festivities will be held. More than 250,000 people attend Mardi Gras Galveston each year to experience the party of a life time. Don't miss the revelry at Mardi Gras Galveston. Why? Because there is nothing else on earth quite like it.