Mardi Gras is such a big event in Louisiana and here where I live in Lafayette too. The kids get a whole week off of school for this celebration. I don't really go to the parades anymore but now my daughters bring their children just like I used to bring them. Today I kept my youngest grandson while my youngest daughter brought her two older children to meet up with my other daughters and grandkids so they could watch the King's Court Parade together. When my daughter came back they had a couple of bags of necklaces and other stuff that was thrown to them from the floats. My granddaughter caught a blue necklace for Papaw and a green necklace for me Granny.....just like I asked her to do. It was 44 degrees for the parade but the sun was shining and people....especially my family were out to enjoy "Fat Tuesday" and the parades....and they did. Blue Bell has even made a special ice cream just for Mardi Gras season. Happy Mardi Gras everyone!
Thanks Babs for the great memories! Mine stem from New Orleans which is probably a lot busier (and now a lot more dangerous) but still, I had some good times way back when. It’s hard to believe that between Canal street and Esplanade one way and Decatur to burgundy the other way, that 6 to 7 million people used to file through and party during carnival and Mardi Gras. Probably still do but I haven’t been back in 20 years. The best one was when my birthday and Mardi Gras fell on the same day! My head hurts just thinking about it. When I had my restaurant on Decatur (a half block from the square), my people worked like dogs 24 hours a day during carnival for tips and a wage but when Mardi Gras hit, I let them have every cent (after food cost) they took in that entire day. The day after Mardi Gras, I closed the doors and allowed my employees to have their own party just because they made me a ton of money and they worked so hard. What they took in during carnival paid my lease, insurance and a huge chunk of the utilities for the whole year plus plus.