A húshagyókedd a farsangi szezon utolsó napja, sok helyen ünneplik karnevállal, felvonulással. Talán a leghíresebb a New Orleans-i karnevál, amelyet Mardi Gras-felvonulásnak is neveznek.
MARDI GRAS – Carnival in New Orleans
The state of Louisiana, originally a French colony, started celebrating Mardi Gras (= Fat Tuesday) in the French tradition, with elegant balls. The city of New Orleans, founded in 1718, became an important port and was on Spanish hands, too, before becoming part of the United States in 1803, when Napoleon sold the territory of Louisiana. By the 1830s the city held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback riders, which expanded to a festive period of two weeks. During the holiday people still wear purple, green and gold, which represent justice, faith and power in the Catholic Church.
The parades are organized by groups called Carnival krewes, whose members wear costumes and masks, and beads and trinkets are thrown into the crowd by the float riders. Krewe members pay fees ranging from thousands of dollars a year for the most elaborate parades to as little as twenty dollars in the more simple ones. One of the most famous parades is Rex, parading the king of the carnival, whose identity is kept secret until the day before Mardi Gras, just like the identity of his “Queen of the Carnival.”
The New Orleans carnival is also characterised by marching bands and jazz music, so much so, that in 1949 Louis Armstrong was elected King of Zulu in a krewe of mostly African American membership. Since members couldn’t afford expensive throws, in the early 1900s they started the tradition of throwing painted and decorated coconuts, which became a major carnival attraction. Originally a religious festival, Mardi Gras in New Orleans over the years has turned into a huge event celebrating different cultures and people who join in together to have a great time.
colony – gyarmat
port – kikötő
street procession – utcai felvonulás
carriage – hintó
to expand – terjeszkedni, kibővülni
justice – igazságosság
faith – hit
power – hatalom
member – tag
trinket – csecsebecse, bizsu
float – felvonulásokon használt színpadszerű kocsi
fee – díj
elaborate – bonyolult, kidolgozott
identity – személyazonosság, kilét
marching band – menetelő zenekar
to be elected – megválasztják
to afford – megengedheti magának (pénzben)
attraction – látványosság
religious festival – vallási ünnep
to turn into – valamivé változni
to have a great time – remekül érzi magát
