Mardi Gras

When most think of Mardi Gras, they think of New Orleans, bourbon street, masses of people, and a fun filled weekend, but most do not go as far as to research the history. Mardi Gras came to New Orleans through its French heritage in 1699. Mardi Gras had been celebrated in Paris since the Middle Ages, where it was a major holiday. Iberville, a French explorer, sailed into the Gulf of Mexico, from where he launched an expedition up the Mississippi River. On March 3 of 1699, Iberville had set up a camp on the west bank of the river about 60 miles south of where New Orleans is today. This was…