What Is Mardi Gras About?

'What Is Mardi Gras About?' is a fantastic video made by a fifth-grader teen called Kalypso. There are great pics of the Zulus, the floats, beads, dancers, the Muses, but most importantly, just after 6 months after hurricane Katrina made a huge destruction in the city, here comes a beautiful video narrative of what Fat Tuesday festivals, krewes, parties are all about - and what is New Orleans about, what was Katrina about.

The simple under-dramatized child tone makes the film very powerful. I loved it a lot. In fact, it is the very best post-Katrina (post-K) film I have seen so far. Thanks Kalypso! :)

The History of New Orleans Mardi Gras King Cake

This video on Mardi Gras King Cake answers the question 'What is the origin of the purple green and gold colored bread of the Mardi Gras carneval, the King Cake made of cinnamon dough?' Producer Anne-Marie Berger went to New Orleans to find out the origin of the Mardi Gras King Cake. "This old tradition started as a pagan ritual in Europe to select a king or queen for the day... This cake is a fun tradition that is gaining popularity with Mardi Gras observers in St. Louis."



Purple representing justice, green representing faith and gold symbolizing power. Plastic babies hidden inside!

Here's an easy king cake recipe with great photo illustrations of each step if you feel like making one!