1. Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French.
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday,
Carnival, and even Pancake Day in the UK,
is an annual festival which will be celebrated
on 16th February in 20XX.
Falling just before Lent, it traditionally marks the last
opportunity for fun and feasting before 40 days of
"self-denial".
Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French.

2. Festivities begin at the beginning of February, leading up to Mardi Gras day, and consist of parades, dancing in the street, costumes and masked balls.
The modern Carnival tradition developed in
Europe in the Middle ages, and is celebrated
mainly in Roman Catholic communities in Europe
and the Americas today.

3. Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world
Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world.  Some of the most famous celebrations are held in Nice (France), Cologne (Germany), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and New Orleans (USA)Binche in Belgium and Viareggio in Italy are just a few examples.  
The Tuesday that Mardi Gras falls on is also known
as Shrove Tuesday. 
The name comes from the custom of confessing
on the day before lent. 
Shrove means "to be forgiven one's sins."

4. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday"
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday".  The name comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through Paris on this day.  The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent.  Lent runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter Sunday.
Mardi Gras moves.  It can be anywhere between
February 3rd and March 9th.  The date depends on
when Easter falls.
French people who came to the United States brought
the custom of Mardi Gras with them. 
The most famous festival in the US (and perhaps the
world) is at New Orleans in Louisiana.

5. During the parade, everyone dresses up in costumes
During the parade, everyone dresses up in costumes.  Trinkets, especially beads and doubloons, are tossed to the crowds from the parade floats.
Watch the two clips on mardi gras in New Orleans!!!!

6. In Southern Italy, people dress up in costumes and put on an ancient play during Mardi Gras.
In Rio de Janeiro, people dance in the streets
In Nice, France people wear giant masks in the
Mardi Gras parade.
(it looks like a bunch of walking heads with tiny bodies).

7. In Binche, Belgium people dress in colorful clown
costumes (the clowns are called gilles).
The clowns wear bunches of
ostrich feathers on their
heads and dance in the
streets.  They carry baskets
of oranges which they throw
to the watching crowds.

8. Mardi Gras is all about green, purple, gold, sparkle, beads, masks and noise!
symbolises FAITH
GOLD!
symbolises POWER!
PURPLE!
symbolises JUSTICE!

9. Mardi gras masks! -Cut out a basic mask shape.
-Draw your own, or use our templates.
-use coloured (preferably purple, gold or green) card, or white card
-add colour, sequins, beads, ribbons, glitter, feathers etc to decorate -Using a hole punch, punch two holes at each end and cut string or elastic to fit.
-decorate your mask to be really "over the top" and fancy!

10. Some ideas