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Mardi Gras With Meaning
Celebrate Fat Tuesday
By Sue Marquette Poremba
Costumes are also popular at Mardi Gras. They don't have to be elaborate, Halloween-style costumes; instead, party guests should be encouraged to wear things like crazy hats, feather boas or anything brightly colored, especially in purple, green or gold. Masks are another Mardi Gras favorite. In fact, the host should have a supply of Mardi Gras masks on hand for guests who forget to come in costume.
Other party items and decorations to have on hand include doubloons, Moon Pies and fancy decorated umbrellas that can be used for an impromptu dance and parade in the backyard.
cake for next year's party," says King. According to Chef Patrick Mould of the Louisiana School of Cooking, thousands of king cakes are shipped from Louisiana each year. Because Mardi Gras is associated with New Orleans, you'll want to include plenty of Cajun and Creole foods. Chef Mould says gumbo is one of the most traditional of all Mardi Gras foods. "In small towns, people [representing an organization like a krewe] who are under the direction of a Captaine ride on horseback from home to home to gather the ingredients to make gumbo," he says. "The most prized ingredient is the live chicken."