Dust off your beads and masks, because Mardi Gras is making its way to the illustrious Garfield High School commons this October 5 for Homecoming! Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” marks the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, and is usually celebrated with vibrant parades, costumes, and music. The holiday originated in medieval Europe and is most famously celebrated in New Orleans, though it also takes on various forms around the world, from Rio de Janeiro’s vibrant Carnival to Venice’s masked balls. Embracing a more unconventional Mardi Gras setting can often create its own unique charm. Who needs a fancy venue when you can have the thrill of mismatched decorations and awkward dancing in our very own lunchroom? Many students are expressing disappointment about this year’s Homecoming location, but let’s be honest, nothing quite sets the mood like the “cafeteria after hours” ambiance.
Here are some Mardi Gras traditions that you might want to incorporate in your night at HOCO:
Bead throwing: During Mardi Gras parades, Krewe members on floats throw colorful beaded necklaces at parade-goers as the floats pass by. Throws often include other items such as doubloons, cups, Zulu coconuts, and homemade toys. If you’re feeling so touched by the Mardi Gras spirit then you should try throwing beads and other decorations at all your fellow Homecoming-goers, they’ll totally love it!
Flambeaux: Flambeaux is a long-standing tradition where costumed marchers carry tall torches to illuminate nighttime parades and create a festive atmosphere. Originally used to light the way for floats, flambeaux has evolved into a vibrant spectacle and showcase for elaborate costumes and dancing. If you want to participate in this amazing tradition, all you need to do is bring your own stick, rag, and lighter!
King cake: At Mardi Gras, King cake is a festive dessert symbolizing the season, complete with a hidden plastic baby that is a sign of good luck to the finder. In tradition, whoever receives the slice of cake with the baby in it must bring or host the next king cake party, ensuring that the celebrations keep rolling. This year at Homecoming, why not spice things up and bring back the middle school trend of hiding plastic babies all around the school? To make the search even more fun, the student who finds the most babies gets to host Homecoming next year!