I am in a celebratory mood! I understand Mardi Gras is coming up. I never thought to celebrate it before. It's not part of my heritage, BUT the colors, the glitter, the beads, the fun! And I do love 17th and 18th century Italian history! What's not to love?
The holiday goes back thousands of years. There is some debate as to its true beginnings. Perhaps it started sometime around when Christianity arrived in Rome. Then it showed up about 1094 in Italy, and the Catholic form of celebrating spread quickly throughout the world. We give credit to the French for taking it to another level.
While in Venice I only wanted to don one of the magnificent le masques and "make believe." Purple, green and gold are the colors synonymous with Mardi Gras. Each also happens to be great to use as the predominant color in an interior because they signify regality, power, faith and justice.
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| Brian McCarthy |
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| William Eubanks |
Mardi gras literally means Fat Tuesday. It denotes the last day of debauchery before Lent in the Catholic religion. When the tradition showed up in the French quarter of New Orleans it was celebrated with lavish balls which gave way almost 100 years later into street processions with floats and masked carnivals. This is now serious business and is not all about giant heads and exposed breasts. Counter intuitively, it's actually about slowing down, being with family, and enjoying the revelry.
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| Robert Passel |
Celebration or no celebration, if we take a page out of Mardi Gras inspired decorating, we are sure to show our true colors in the way we live inside and out.
*Laissez les bons temps rouler!
* French for Let the Good Times Roll
all photos not marked:pinterest
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