Mardi Gras Masks: Behind the Costumes
The allure of Mardi Gras is all about being something or someone else. The infamous Fat Tuesday even hides behind another name! Whether you find yourself hanging on Bourbon Street or following in the steps of a Krewe, Mardi Gras is about releasing your alter-ego. That custom holds through a long history of Mardi Gras masks and costumes.
With a tradition going back over 300 years, the annual Mardi Gras party has some well established rituals. Even the naughtier “girls flashing for beads” custom is nothing really new; city elders railed against the ‘debauchery’ even in the 1890s. That 300-year history includes a proud tradition of intricate Mardi Gras costumes that go beyond the sinful and into the truly artistic.
One of the most colorful Mardi Gras traditions is the tradition of wearing wonderfully designed and way over-the-top masks. In fact, the tradition of wearing a mask ...