Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun!

Posted by Stephanie Griggs | Blog, Festivals, Louisiana, United States, USA East Coast | 34

This Mardi Gras Glossary will help you get ready for the Carnival Season which has begun. Now you are ready to go and party like a real New Orleans. Let us go over some key words and phrases and you will be ready to have fun! The history behind some of these words are fascinating and I enjoyed doing the research. Let us get started with the Mardi Gras Glossary.

French Quarter – Mardi Gras Glossary

Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Take a Carriage Ride…

New Orleans Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

St. Louis Cathedral

Voodoo Shop New Orleans

Parade Throws – Mardi Gras Beads!

Mardi Gras Glossary

Ash Wednesday

First day of Lent in Western Christianity that signifies the end of Carnival season.

Bacchus

One of the Three Super Krewes of New Orleans where business leaders whose dream was to revitalize Carnival. 1968 started the first night parade that ends at the Convention Center. Following the parade starts their black-tie event featuring celebrity entertainment.

Ball

Private formal affair where the King and Queen of that Krewe is made public. Sometimes Invitations are given to others not in the Krewe. A ball is after a Parade for the Super Krewes.

Carnival Season

Starts after the Epiphany which is the end of the Christmas Season and then the parades, balls and other celebrations happen, leading up to Mardi Gras.

Colors of Mardi Gras

Yellow, Green and Purple.

Doubloon

Most cherished and oldest throw, a coin which started with the Rex parade. Each Krewe has their face on the coin.

Endymion

One of Three Super Krewes, known for their stunning floats and new technology. The Grand Marshal is a celebrity. Endymion ball is hosted in the Super Dome.

Epiphany

Three Kings day and the start of Carnival Season.

Fat Tuesday

Last day of the Carnival Season that ends at midnight and always the day before Ash Wednesday.

Flambeaux

A Flaming Torch part of the Mardi Gras Tradition. First debuted with the Mistick Krewe in 1857 and used for revelers to see the Carnival Parades. Originally the torches were wooden wrapped with lit pine tar rags. Then evolved into oil-burning lanterns.

King Cake

A Pastry that is part of the New Orleans tradition. The King Cake is circular, filled with fruit, and is baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside. The person who gets the baby hosts the next party. Usually the icing on the cake is yellow, green and purple.

Krewe

Consists of a King, Queen and a Court who work all year for the big, spectacular ball.

Laissez les bon temps roulez

“Let the good times roll”: A French saying associated with Mardi Gras.

Lundi Gras

Monday before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). Includes the tradition of Rex, the King of New Orleans Carnival arrival by boat. Check for parades on this day.

Mardi Gras

Traced back to Medieval Europe and found its way to New Orleans by a French-Canadian Explorer. Also is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and signifies the end of the Carnival Season. Mardi Gras is where there are Parades with dazzling floats and masked balls throughout the entire Carnival Season.

Mardi Gras Indians

Part of the secrecy of Mardi Gras. They were comprised of the African-American community. They wore masks, were violent and on Mardi Gras would settle old scores in the old day.

Masquerade

Where some pretends to be someone they are not by wearing a mask. The wearer was free to roam and mingle with different classes. Float riders are required to wear masks and on Fat Tuesday everyone is free to wear a mask.

Neutral Ground

The median and is public property. The place where people stand to watch the parade and receive Throws from the Floats.

Rex

A Krewe known for it’s elaborately decorated hand painted floats. Origin of the Carnival Colors Purple, Green and Gold and also the doubloons coins. Founded in 1872.

Super Krewe

Krewes that produce large parades and an indoor extravaganza the night of the parade. The three Super Krewe’s are Bacchus, Orpheus, and Endymion.

Throws

A throw can be a doubloon, toys, cups, beads, trinkets, and more which are thrown to the crowd form the float during the parade. Sometimes you must be fast to catch your throw especially if it lands on the ground. As you reach for the trinket someone might stomp on your hand for that special throw.

Throw me something mister

A saying when one wants a throw from the King, Queen or Court on the float during a Parade.

Zulu

Started in 1909 by a group of laborers who organized a club called “The Tramps” who met and emerged from a meeting as the Zulu Tribe. The group started in the Parade wearing ragged pants then by 1915 first used floats constructed on spring wagon with boxed dried goods. For 2017 Zulu’s theme for Carnival is “Stop the Violence”.

Other – Mardi Gras Glossary

Now that you know the important Mardi Gras Glossary words and phrases, you are ready to visit New Orleans for Carnival. Hurry on down, while it is happening right now! For more information on Carnival check out my blog “How to Celebrate Mardi Gras New Orleans“.

Cafe Du Monde go in for some cafe and beignets.

Remember to “Laissez les bon temps roulez”. Happy Mardi Gras! You can also look for more exciting locations at – 1AdventureTraveler.

Life is short go out and have an adventure

Pin this for later!

Also, please have a look at the link up’s I’m participating in with #FollowMeFriday and #WeekendWanderlust on Facebook. Here you will find fantastic adventures by other professional bloggers.

About The Author

Stephanie Griggs

Hi, I am an expat adventure traveler who has traveled to some wonderful places around the world outside of my comfort zone. One who loves to immerse myself into other cultures and share my experiences with others. Enjoy my travel adventures, guides, and recommendations. "Life is short, go out and have an adventure"

34 Comments

Sandy N Vyjay on February 26, 2017 at 05:27

Never celebrated Mardi Gras but after all these amazing new knowledge I would love to celebrate it at least once before I die! That is how much I loved your article.
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on May 17, 2017 at 10:10
  
  Thanks Sandy,
  How great, now you need to go visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras and you will have the lingo (glossary) to have fun.
  Happy Travels 🙂
David on February 25, 2017 at 16:48

Definitely a useful and informative glossary Steph. I’m heading to a Belgian Carnival parade tomorrow, but would love to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras, seems like so much fun!
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on April 6, 2017 at 14:56
  
  Thanks David,
  Your Carnival photos from Belgian were awesome! You would love New Orleans for Mardi Gras. All rules are thrown out and it is fun time with parades, great food and lots of great music. Now you have the glossary and know the lingo…
  Happy Travels 🙂
Jenn on February 25, 2017 at 09:51

This has been on my list for some time now – would love to get down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras! In all my years of studying French, we’d always have little classroom celebrations incorporating some of these elements, but I’d love to experience the real thing! Thanks for all the terminology!!
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on May 17, 2017 at 10:25
  
  Thanks Jenn,
  Mardi Gras in New Orleans is fun. With knowing French you probably know a lot of the glossary words. I hope you get a chance to experience the real thing one day. Book ahead of time it gets crazy there 🙂
  Happy Travels 🙂
Barry on February 23, 2017 at 20:07

Love the horse and cart. I always want to visit New Orleans and I bet the Mardi Gras is ace.
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on May 17, 2017 at 10:27
  
  Thanks Barry,
  Now if you visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras you have the lingo (glossary words) to have fun! Mardi Gras is lots of fun and a crazy time. Worth a visit.
  Happy Travels 🙂
wayfaringsarah on February 23, 2017 at 15:41

This is so so helpful! I always wondered what Bacchus meant! There are so many clubs with that name! thanks for sharing 🙂
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on May 17, 2017 at 10:39
  
  Thanks Sarah,
  Glad the Mardi Gras Glossary explained Bacchus. Hope you get a chance to visit New Orleans
  Happy Travels 🙂
Travel4lifeblog on February 22, 2017 at 23:50

Thanks for sharing! It’s the perfect post for us to read as we are currently experiencing carnival parties not in New Orleans but in Rio! But now we also want to see the ones in New Orleans 🙂 Thanks for sharing a informative post! We learnt heaps!
Patrick and Cécile from Travel4lifeblog:)
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on May 17, 2017 at 10:33
  
  Thanks Patrick and Cecile,
  How fun to celebrate carnival in Rio. I would love to read that blog. Now you must visit New Orleans and see the Parades. This glossary of words will make your experience fun. You probably know all the words in this Glossary.
  Happy Travels 🙂
ThriftyTrails on February 22, 2017 at 22:02

Ohhh thanks for the info! I haven’t even heard of most of these. The Kings Cake I have heard of, I think it is also something eaten around New Year’s in some countries.
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on April 5, 2017 at 17:55
  
  Thanks ThriftyTrails,
  Glad to hear now you know a few Mardi Gras Vocabulary words in case you go to Mardi Gras New Orleans. Carnival season falls right after New Years on Kings day. Thats when the King Cakes start to get eaten. Maybe that is what is eaten around New Years in other countries.
  Happy Travels 🙂
Alissa on February 21, 2017 at 19:30

Really informative, thanks for compiling this! Will keep it in mind if I ever get to go to Mardi Gras! 🙂
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 15, 2017 at 18:56
  
  Thanks Alissa,
  I even learned some new words myself for carnival season and Mardi Gras with this glossary. Hope you get a chance to experience Mardi Gras 😊
Paul and Carole on February 21, 2017 at 15:05

Great information for visiting New Orleans, looks like a fun time! #feetdotravel
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 19, 2017 at 08:55
  
  Thanks Paul and Carole,
  New Orleans is an amazing place but then add Mardi Gras and the fun begins. 😄
Shona on February 21, 2017 at 04:10

Fantastic Stephanie! I particularly like “Fat Tuesday” LOL! I figure, of course it is. 😀
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 19, 2017 at 08:52
  
  Thanks Shona,
  Fat Tuesday is a crazy day then there is Lundi Monday or Lundi Gras which is another fun day… lol 😄
Travel Lexx on February 20, 2017 at 18:16

That’s really cool and I wasn’t aware of majority of those words! I need to save this for later so that I am prepared if I ever find myself in New Orleans for Mardi Gras! Such a fascinating place with an incredible history! Thank for sharing
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 19, 2017 at 08:35
  
  Thanks Alexei,
  I learned some new Mardi Gras words too. I could see you having fun in New Orleans.
Raymond on February 20, 2017 at 13:17

Hi Stephanie, the New Orleans Mardi Gras was my late sister’s favourite place in the world. The French Quarter, the Jazz, the Voodoo – she loved it all. Never been there myself but would love to visit. One day. Good post!
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 19, 2017 at 08:48
  
  Thanks Raymond,
  Hope you get a chance to visit New Orleans. If its during Mardi Gras that bumps up the fun by 100%. You will see why it was your sister’s favorite place in the world. 😊
Kreete on February 19, 2017 at 18:21

Thank you for explaining me what Mardigras is about. I have participated in one in Australia, in the hippie capital of Nimbin and absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to experience more!
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 19, 2017 at 08:43
  
  Hi Kreete,
  You must try and make it to New Orleans especially since you participated in one in Australia. I would love to hear about your experience.
Lisa on February 19, 2017 at 16:32

Fun post! Will come in handy especially for first time visitors. King cakes are always tasty and yes I got the baby once… woohoo! Thanks for sharing definitely needs to be put on Pinterest.
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on November 19, 2017 at 08:37
  
  Thanks Lisa,
  King cakes are the best. Lol you found the baby!
tracy on February 17, 2017 at 14:32

Sounds like it is a lot of fun! Have only celebrated Mardi Gras in France but New Orleans seem to have a lot of amazing history and traditions!
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on February 18, 2017 at 15:13
  
  Hi Tracy,
  How fun to celebrate Mardi Gras in France which I have not done yet or in Venice. New Orleans is fun and exciting and I hope you get a chance to visit during Carnival or another time of the year.
  Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Siddharth and Shruti on February 17, 2017 at 11:02

Thank you so much for sharing. Such a wonderful Mardi Gras cheatsheet! Will bookmark it for the future. Great to have all the phrases in one post! #feetdotravel
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on February 18, 2017 at 15:15
  
  Thanks Siddharth and Shruti,
  Yes, this little cheat sheet goes well with the Mardi Gras Blog and will help you with fun during Carnival in New Orleans. I hope one day you get a chance to visit it is an amazing place.
  Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Scarlett Begonias on February 16, 2017 at 17:40

Mmmmmmm now we are dreaming of King Cake. Please enjoy some for us! This is a great glossary, I especially loved the “throw me something mister”. That one makes me laugh.
Reply
- Stephanie Griggs on February 18, 2017 at 15:27
  
  Hi Scarlett,
  A Praline King Cake is my favorite….so far I have not found the baby. lol. Oh, this also goes along with the “throw me something mister” is the “show me something mister” lol….. 🙂
  Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)