Happy Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras

People used to have celebrations for the coming of spring, in hopes of great bountiful crops.  Mardi Gras originated in France and was part of that spring festival.  Mardi Gras means "FAT TUESDAY", where they would parade a fat ox down the streets for people to see.  Customarily, Mardi Gras was celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of lent.  During lent, Christians would fast or abstain from animal products, like meat, cheese, eggs etx. as a form of sacrifice and penance.   Knowing this long period of fasting would begin, they would  a bit of a party the day before. 

 In England they call the day before lent....pancake Tuesday.  In Germany, the day was called Fastnacht meaning the "eve of fast".  The French and Spanish people called the days before lent "carnival."  This english word is derived from Latin Carne & Vale .  Carne meaning "meat"  and Vale meaning "goodbye of farewell".   Many people mistake Carnival for Mardi Gras, but actually Carnival begins the 12th day after Christmas when the wise man came to visit Jesus.   The 12th day after Christmas begins Carnival and they have parties each week until the season of festivities ends with Mardi Gras.   The french settlers landed in New Orleans and in 1718 they founded the town Nouvelle Orleans.  They continued their custom of Mardi Gras and till this day we still celebrate it.  Here is your moment in History.  Information take form book Mardi-Gras by: Dianne M. MacMillian

I love home schooling.  Today we did a huge lesson on Mardi-Gras.  In this lesson we captured the following:  Social Studies, history, music appreciation, by studying and listening to authentic Cajun music, learned about, cooked, and ate cajun food, learned a few new vocabulary words, as well as a Latin, French, and German words, we had crafts and made our own masks, we got books from the library and read books about mardi gras, we did a geography lesson, finding France, Spain, Germany, and of course Louisiana, New Orleans!  They had a great time and learned a lot. Below are few pictures of the festivities....ENJOY!

Making masks...they were made from their handprints. 

or me

Bet you can't guess who I am.

or me!

Kids enjoying Gumbo and sparkling apple cider along with a festive table and Cajun music!

 

Zabee won!!!  He was the winner of guess how many sticks are in the jar and his prize....CANDY! He was so sweet and shared his winnings with his siblings and in the end all were happy :)