Madri Gras; the Big Party
By Jim Wylie

The meaning of Mardi Gras in French language is “Fat Tuesday”.  It falls 47 days before Easter, usually somewhere between February 3 and March 9, depending on the lunar cycle, but the Mardi Gras season itself begins on January 6th and doesn’t end until Fat Tuesday.

Mardi Gras originated in France and traveled to New Orleans in the late 17th century and today Mardi Gras is celebrated with great pomp every year. The people of New Orleans added the tradition of holding balls and hosting parades to the festival of Mardi Gras.  You could now call Mardi Gras the final big party before the sacrifices of the season of Lent.

A Mardi Gras party is the time when you can get noticed. This is the time when you can show your tastes through the costume you select for the “party”.  Mardi Gras costumes are a way to escape from reality and enter the world of fantasy and dreams.  Mardi Gras costumes usually contain the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold but nothing prevents you from choosing your own colors if any of these offends you.  Black leather seems to be very popular during Mardi Gras along with masks of all types (but masks are a complete story in themselves).

When choosing a costume for Mardi Gras, please remember Mardi Gras costumes usually portray fantasy characters, such as clowns, jesters, dancing girls, or other more risqué endeavors.  The Grinch, the Easter Bunny and other types of character costumes in this vane, while acceptable, should be avoided during Mardi Gras in some people’s opinions.  Keep in mind this is principally a celebration of release of inhibitions, which normally involves actions and things beyond the scope of those other, G-rated costumes.

Now-a-days, a lot of options are available to shop for these Mardi Gras costumes. There are a number of costume shops specializing holiday costumes which may have suitable attire for a Mardi Gras party but it is doubtful they will have the risqué types that are more popular. Check out the Leather and the sex shops, oh sorry, the adult entertainment shops.  These have great leather and/or harnesses and bras and corsets, and bustiers that will spice up your Mardi Gras costume.  You should also check out the other leather items available for costumes including the thongs, g-strings, pants, shirts, vests, etc.  These types of items can help further define your Mardi Gras mood and level of expectation.

Remember, Mardi Gras is a celebration of life before having to sacrifice.  Celebrate it to the fullest but there is always “Fat Tuesday” and beyond that you will have to face after the big Mardi Gras party.  Keep your self respect intact, no matter how you choose to celebrate Mardi Gras, but have fun.

Jim Wylie is owner of www.LeatherDelight.com an online retailer of high quality leather wear.