Why is Mardi Gras celebrated? Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The Lenten season is dedicated to repentance and fasting in preparation for Easter. In preparation for this lean, hungry and virtuous season, age-old European tradition is to eat, drink and party like mad to get it out of their collective system.
This season between Twelfth Night and Ash Wednesday is called Carnival (from the Latin "farewell to flesh"). The Carnival ball is a formal party given by a krewe for its members and their guests. It consists of a royal court with king and queen, dukes and duchesses and the like, who are presented in lavish costumes to an audience of invited guests. The more traditional balls present tableaux, which are staged pageants that depict stories, usually from mythology or history. A queen's supper, which might be a dinner dance or informal party, often is held after the ball. Sometimes balls are also cotillions. The Original Illinois Club, for example, has an annual ball and debutante cotillion.
By our informal count, there are 137 local Carnival balls. The first is always the Twelfth Night Ball, held on Jan. 6, or Kings' 
Day, by the Twelfth Night Revelers. This signals the start of the Carnival season. Traditional balls are still by far the most popular, with 87 organizations favoring them. Another 23 groups present tableaux, followed by balls or supper dances. Eighteen krewes have changed to supper dances alone, while seven stage balls followed by dances.
Future Mardi Gras Dates During Your Residency/ Fellowship
Important Mardi Gras tips (from the pros):
1. Bathrooms - Know where the nearest facilities are. Port-o-lets are around but lines are long. To use the restrooms in restaurants and bars, you need to purchase something. Lots of things are allowed during Mardi Gras, but not public urination. This will get you in the klink for the whole festival.
2. Sun screen - New Orleans is tropical, so bad sunburns can be had even in Feb.
3. Folding chairs - unless viewing parades from a balcony or grandstand, you might want to bring folding chairs with you. Of course, if you bring them, you have to carry them. If you are planning on just viewing parades, it's a great thing. If you planning on going to the Quarter, you won't want to lug them around.
4. Beverages - I think this goes without saying.
5. Don't pick up beads from the ground: you will end up with a broken finger. Step on whatever you want, then retrieve it. Downtown, on St. Charles and Canal, especially.
6. Do not cross barricades to pick up throws.
7. Driving/parking - Police block traffic from major parade routes well before the parades. Allow extra time to arrive and find parking. On foot, take care not to cross police barricades. Especially on Canal Street, crossing a barricade.
