Watch celebrations in New Orleans

Featured, USA3 months ago15 Views

The ultimate day of Mardi Gras has arrived.

Fats Tuesday, or the Tuesday earlier than Ash Wednesday, is March 4 this 12 months and is often the day throughout Mardi Gras with the biggest parades and largest events. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season that culminates with Easter.

Whereas probably the most well-known Mardi Gras celebrations is in New Orleans, the vacation is well known throughout the globe, from North America, to South America, Europe and Asia.

USA TODAY is offering stay protection of the parades round New Orleans on Fats Tuesday, starting round 11:15 a.m. EST. You possibly can watch the festivities stay on the embedded video on the prime of the web page or on USA TODAY’s YouTube Channel.

When is Mardi Gras 2025?

This 12 months, Mardi Gras, which interprets from French to “Fats Tuesday,” is on March 4.

Ash Wednesday is on March 5, the day marking the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season that culminates with Easter.

Why does New Orleans rejoice Mardi Gras?

Though it’s a Christian vacation now, Mardi Gras is a vacation that dates again hundreds of years to pagan spring and fertility rites, in keeping with the Historical past Channel. Mardi Gras, additionally usually referred to as Carnival or Carnaval, is well known in international locations world wide with massive Roman Catholic populations.

Louisiana was colonized first by the French earlier than it turned a part of the U.S., and has retained robust French and Cajun tradition and traditions, together with Mardi Gras.

When are the 2025 Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans?

There might be loads of parades round New Orleans on Tuesday, March 4. There’ll even be parades for canine lovers after the official carnival season ends.

Here is when and the place to catch these parades, in keeping with Mardi Gras New Orleans. For particular parade routes, click on the hyperlink on the corresponding parade.

Tuesday, March 4

Sunday, March 9

Saturday, March 15

Gabe Hauari is a nationwide trending information reporter at USA TODAY. You possibly can observe him on X @GabeHauari or e mail him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.