Mardi Gras Celebrations and Parades Locations Locator Map and Directory

From Wikipedia

The terms "Mardi Gras" in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Epiphany and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" (in ethnic English tradition, Shrove Tuesday), referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices were associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices included wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

While Mardi Gras in the United States is not observed nationally across the country, a number of cities and regions in the U.S. have notable celebrations. Because of the French colonial history of the settlements, the earliest celebrations occurred in Mobile, Alabama, Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana, which have each developed separate traditions. In addition, modern activities generally vary from city to city across the USA.