# Mardi Gras **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 28, 2000, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297 "2000-02-28T17:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/1 "2000-02-28T17:04:00Z")
Ok, I’m confused…I was pretty sure that Mardi Gras started the week before Lent…or specifically the week before Fat Tuesday. So how come in my March issue of Playboy, (sent out at the begginning of February) they have their pictures from Mardi Gras?..Are these pictures from last year?..If so, why don’t they publish them in the May issue?..Does Playboy have a special time machine that they use to send the pictures back in time to meet the publishing deadline? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/2 "2000-02-28T17:11:00Z")
Mardi Gras _is_ Fat Tuesday. Mardi=Tuesday Gras=Fat * * * – “it’s all real” “I KNEW IT!!!” O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/3 "2000-02-28T17:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Atrael: > **So how come in my March issue of Playboy, (sent out at the begginning of February) they have their pictures from Mardi Gras?** I wouldn’t know. I only read the car tests in _Playboy_. * * * **Coldfire** * * * _ **"You know how complex women are"** _ - Neil Peart, **Rush** (1993) ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/4 "2000-02-28T17:35:00Z")
Perhaps a more reliable periodical is in order… try Penthouse next time * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/5 "2000-02-28T17:38:00Z")
I don’t subscribe to Playboy, but here’s some 411 about Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday”, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent (Catholics, help me out here) which is a season of sacrifice. The idea is that since you’ll be depriving yourself for the next 40 days, you need to “fatten up” (eat a lot) and consume all the alcohol you can. It’s going to be a long dry spell! Mardi Gras itself is only one day, like Christmas. The Christmas Eve analog would be Lundi Gras (“Fat Monday”). Parties start, say, around the Thursday or Friday before Mardi Gras. The “King Cake” is to Mardi Gras as the fruitcake is to Christmas. There is a small toy baby (representing the Baby Jesus) baked in the cake. Traditionally, the person who gets the slice with the baby in it throws the party the following year. I’ve been to Mardi Gras three times. I stayed with friends who are no longer there. Too bad. I dig it. The Krewe of Cosmic Debris parade is fun. Basically, anyone who wants to can join. You stagger around the Quarter keeping time with the music (it’s a roving jam session, among other things) and stopping at the occaional pub. At some point an entire block ends up turning into a big party and traffic can’t get through. As for the OP, I think it’s likely they got the pics last year. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/6 "2000-02-28T17:39:00Z")
Geez! Spend a little time on the phone with the IRS and three people post ahead of me! ---
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/7 "2000-02-29T06:52:00Z")
Ohh yeah… that’s right it’s next Tuesday! :::Pulls off her top and struts bare-breasted practicing for the bead throwing::: * * * I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/8 "2000-02-28T21:32:00Z")
Hate to tell you this, PCW, but the New Orleans police have made it known that they’re gonna arrest people for that this year. What’s the world coming to? ---
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/9 "2000-02-28T21:38:00Z")
Do you honestly think being arrested would bother a crackwhore??? * * * I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/10 "2000-02-28T23:50:00Z")
Well, Purp, the NOLA jail at Mardi Gras is but an extension of the festivities-mebbe more so… Bet this year they’ll have more surly women than they’re prepared for. Or mebbe they were just getting bored… How would I know? That’s another story… ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/11 "2000-02-29T00:11:00Z")
Yeah, Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, but there’s also the Mardi Gras “season” or celebration (aka Carnival) which begins on Jan. 6 every year, and ends, of course, on Mardi Gras ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/12 "2000-02-29T02:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Hate to tell you this, PCW, but the New Orleans police have made it known that they’re gonna arrest people for that this year. They say that _every_ year! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Suzeanne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Suzeanne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suzeanne)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/13 "2000-02-29T03:07:00Z")
Playboy, like most other monthly magazines, has to prepare an issue well in advance of release date. You have to make sure all of your content is locked down, then edit edit edit and get it ready to be printed and shipped up to a month BEFORE the date on the cover. Check the big breast shot with the Playboy necklace between them. The medallion reads Mardi Gras 1999. * * * I just haven’t been the same since that house fell on my sister. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/14 "2000-02-29T04:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Johnny L.A.: > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Hate to tell you this, PCW, but the New Orleans police have made it known that they’re gonna arrest people for that this year. > > They say that _every_ year! ;)\*\* Yeah, but they arrested 51 people this past weekend on Bourbon Street alone. Apparently they are really trying to crack down this year. They are also trying to get bead tossing banned because it poses a safety hazard. Don’t you just hate when everything gets too safe to be fun? * * * I have a hobby. I have the world’s largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you’ve seen some of it. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/15 "2000-02-29T04:49:00Z")
Is that only topless women… or does it go for men too. And if it doesn’t, isn’t that a double standard? :protests by removing her top and waving it at the crowd:: * * * I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/16 "2000-02-29T13:56:00Z")
evilbeth, You talk as if you live there. If so, can I come stay with you next year? 😉 There are SO many people there, that the odds of being arrested are small. Yeah, it sucks when they try to stop people from having some good clean fun! I shot two scenes in my friend’s film _Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras_. Every review I’ve read on the 'net called it one of the worst movies they’d ever seen. Personally, I LMAO every time I see it! But then, it’s aimed at a very specific audience. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2000, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/17 "2000-03-01T07:55:00Z")
I don’t live there (I just read the arrest info) but you can visit anytime! 😉 You can even help my husband with his film! * * * I have a hobby. I have the world’s largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you’ve seen some of it. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2000, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/18 "2000-03-01T08:08:00Z")
As far as I know, nobody’s getting threatened with arrest here in Lafayette, LA. We have the 2nd biggest Mardi Gras. (If you didn’t know it’s actually celebrated in towns all over Louisiana, and even a couple places in TX if I’m not mistaken) It’s not quite as wild as the Big Easy, but if you want to come show your tits here, you’re more than welcome! * * * I am the user formerly known as puffington. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2000, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/19 "2000-03-01T08:37:00Z")
You might be advised to hang out in N.O. in the days(and weeks :)) leading up to Mardi Gras, then heading to Lafayette for Lundi & Mardi Gras, when the crowds in N.O. are so dense you can’t even begin to have any fun. We had 400,000 people here last year to N.O.'s 2 million. Space where you can walk without getting knocked down, not to mention REAL Cajun food (N.O. is much more Creole than Cajun) are two big plusses of Fat Tuesday in Lafayette. * * * I am the user formerly known as puffington. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297/20 "2000-03-03T00:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah, Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, but there’s also the Mardi Gras “season” or celebration (aka Carnival) which begins on Jan. 6 every year, and ends, of course, on Mardi Gras I haven’t been back since I moved away in ‘88, but I belive the Krewes start parading on the night of 6 January. My favorite parades were down Veterans’ Memorial Boulevard in Metairie. The crowds tend to be smaller for the suburban parades, and the band from my high school marched in the Metairie parades. I was in New Orleans with my parents on Fat Tuesday four years in a row. By the fifth year I had become bored with the parade after parade after parade and stayed home. * * * “Age is mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” -Leroy “Satchel” Paige [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mardi-gras/14297.md?page=2)