Although the actual day changes every year, Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) is always 46 days before Easter. Masks, beads, crowns and parades make for a memorable Mardi Gras experience. The Mardi Gras colors of green (symbolizing faith), purple (justice) and gold (power) allow you to incorporate a lot of crafts into a Mardi Gras theme. There a lot of crafts you can make using these things for either Mardi Gras decoration, or just for fun.
Most Mardi Gras celebrations involve flamboyant costumes, so choose a craft that allows you to transform yourself. Use construction paper, glue and bells to make a jester's cap. Glitter, stickers and markers add a personal touch. You can make your own King's Crown out of something as simple as craft foam or construction paper decorated with stickers or a more elaborate crown made from wire and beads. Try to tie in the Mardi Gras colors as much as possible.
Get your little ones into the spirit by letting them choose a Mardi Gras craft. They can make their own floats using a large cardboard box. Cut a hole in the bottom large enough for the child to stand in. Cut hand holes in the side to make holding it at waist level easier for the child. Use balloons, streamers and glitter to make Mardi Gras decorations on the sides. Let each child decorate one and stage a mock parade.
Another activity for children, especially if you plan to attend a Mardi Gras parade, is a treats bag. Beads, candy and other treats are called "throws." Take a paper bag and cut the top two inches in a strip. Using a stapler, staple each end of the strip on opposite sides of the bag to make a handle. Use stickers, glitter, paint and glue to decorate the sides. You can make your own confetti by buying paper punches in festive designs and using them on colorful paper.
Any craft store should have plain masks that you can transform into a Mardi Gras masks. Use glue, feathers, paint and glitter in the Mardi Gras colors to decorate the mask. Just make sure the decorations you add don't impair your vision. For a simpler design, you can cut eye and mouth holes out of a paper plate and decorate to create your own Mardi Gras look.
 | With the right colors, the right food and the right soundtrack, you can throw a Mardi Gras party in your own home that rivals the real thing. |
 | To many, Mardi Gras means colorful carnivals and decadent festivities, best associated with the colorful parades, gaudy costumes and party atmosphere of New Orleans. The traditions of Mardi Gras, however, date back as far as the Middle Ages. |
 | The origins of Mardi Gras beads are one of the great mysteries of Carnival. As important as they are to Fat Tuesday festivities, very few people know where these trinkets come from and why they are thrown from floats. |
Why not make up a Mardi Gras hostess gift basket in Mardi Gras colors complete with some Cajun food, several jazz CDs, and a generous handful of Mardi Gras beads? |
As a festival known for its flamboyant nature and raucous entertainment, it is wise to follow a few Mardi Gras parade safety tips. Whether you're watching the big parade in New Orleans or attending another community Mardi Gras parade event, parade safety tips will keep you and your loved ones free from harm. |
