Celebrate Mardi Gras like New Orleans

Mardi Gras is a festive celebrate full of purple, gold, and green! It's time to celebrate with beads, King Cake, and costumes. Are you not anywhere close to New Orleans? That's okay, just celebrate at home just the way they do down in New Orleans. Wedding and Party Network has a few tips on celebrating Mardi Gras.

1. 

   Mardi Gras Table Setting
   King Cake – This is an essential part of any Mardi Gras party. It is actually traced back to the 18th century and tradition has it, whoever gets the plastic baby hosts the next party and buys the next cake.
2. Flambeau – These carry lights to light up the night and offer some heat for the celebrations. Yes, heat in a warm up kind of way, but also they're experienced and skillful at carrying these flame torches which provides some fun as well.
3. Not So Secret Societies – Better known as The Krewes, who are the masking and parading clubs, which were developed from private social clubs.
4. Mardi Gras Ball – Celebrate Mardi Gras with a festive party that features gowns, elaborate costumes, and masks. This event dates back to the beginning of Mardi Gras when there were kings and queens.
5. Purple, Green, Gold – Everyone knows these colors. They represent Mardi Gras in every way and are incorporated EVERYWHERE!
6. Beads – Go ahead and stock up on beads, because these are everywhere during Mardi Gras. This is the first thing that people think about when they think of Mardi Gras. These are used as party decorations or they are thrown off floats.
7. Golden Nugget – This is another popular item that is thrown, just like beads. It's actually a painted coconut that is decorated with a Mardi Gras feel.
8. Costumes – Another big part of this celebrate is the costumes. Everyone is decked out in elaborate get ups, masks, boas, and beads! Now is the time to dress up, besides Halloween.
9. Mardi Gras Indians – Back in historical Mardi Gras, they were comprised on mostly African-Americans and gathered to settle scores and debts. It's definitely not the case today.
10. Parade Floats – Lets not forget about the floats. They couldn't have a parade without these extravagant and colorful floats.

Now, how can you incorporate these into a party? Easy! Host a Mardi Gras Ball at your house, deck everything out in green, purple, & gold, use beads for party decorations, have everyone dress in costume, and serve a King Cake for dessert. It's that simple.