FIVE FESTIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE MARDI GRAS
No doubt it’s been a challenging year for everyone, and we’re all ready for some good times! If you’re searching for a fun and festive reason to celebrate, why not plan a Mardi Gras party for your family or a small group of friends. Choose any combination of the following FAB FIVE of FAT TUESDAY and let the good times roll.
1. GET YOUR FAMILY OR FRIEND GROUP
What matters above all else this year is being with your family and friends. Gather your family or a small group of friends and invite them to get in the Mardi Gras spirit. The actual holiday is on February 16th this year – but feel free to pick any date around then to celebrate! Check out some fun and free printable invitations here.
2. GET YOUR FRENCH ON
Most know that Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” but here are a few more fun French phrases that you can practice for your festive fête. To hear the proper pronunciation read aloud, click here.
Laissez les bons temps rouler: Let the good times roll
un bal masqué: costume ball
un feu de joie: bonfire
le masque: mask
une perle: bead
la plume: feather
la reine: queen
le roi: king
3. GET YOUR FESTIVE ON
One of the best parts of Mardi Gras is that just about anything goes…bright colors, beads, bangles. Decorate your party space by hanging beads and streamers in the traditional colors of purple, green and gold. Create fun paper mâché or paper plate masks with poster paint and faux jewels. Get a free mask template here.
Then, dress in glittery costumes or Mardi Gras colors, choose an honorary king and queen, and throw your own parade or costume ball complete with jazzy music!
4. GET YOUR FEAST ON
Since Fat Tuesday is the last day before traditional Lenten fasting, food is undoubtedly a main event of the bash! Classic Mardi Gras food includes Cajun inspired gumbo, red beans and rice, or jambalaya. But, feel free to improvise with fun finger food, or snacks that are purple, green or gold. Some version of a King Cake is also a must. Most King Cakes involve pastry dough formed into a ring with a small plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever gets the slice with the baby wins a prize! Find the recipe here.
5. DON’T FORGET THE FUN GAMES!
Finally, don’t forget to have an arsenal of exciting games on hand to keep the party hopping. For younger kids, choose a magical, glowing game like Protectors of the Rainbow that is designed for kids ages 4-10. Spark your imaginations as you pretend to be unicorns, racing to find hidden glow-in-the-dark gems in this treasure hunt game that can be played indoors or outside. For older kids and groups of mixed ages, check out Vikings of the Northern Lights. Another magical game driven by your imagination as you pretend Ice Dragons have invaded the lands! It’s up to the Vikings to drive them off by restoring the glowing gems to the medieval scepter before the ice dragons freeze-tag them all. Designed to be played in snow or sun, teams work together to guard, protect and restore the scepter to its full power.
Now that the festivities are set, it’s time to throw a Mardi Gras gathering that’s a blast for the whole gang! Decorate, dress to the nines, create a delicious spread, and enjoy some fun filled games that will keep the party going well into the night!
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