Mardi Gras is a holiday we associate with New Orleans, but it’s actually a Christian holiday celebrated worldwide. Mardi Gras, meaning “Fat Tuesday,” is a time when people famously eat and gorge themselves on delicious food before fasting on Ash Wednesday. People around the world in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy all have their own special celebrations. So, if everyone else can celebrate, so can we! That’s why on March 1st, our very own Chef Rawn is creating a special four-course meal of dishes for a Mardi Gras night at Cork Bar & Restaurant.
Our offerings go beyond the massive four-course meal. We include signature drinks like Classic Hurricane, French 25, Ramos Gin Fizz, and Rum Runner! There are a limited number of reservations, so call soon at (570)-270-3818 to make sure you get your seat.
History of Mardi Gras
Like many Christian holidays, many believe there to be some link to old Pagan holidays. Similar to Christmas, there are links to a Roman holiday called Saturnalia when the Romans celebrated the coming of the spring and fertility. As the name suggests, it was celebrated to honor the god of agriculture, Saturn.
Eventually, it became a holiday known for ritual Lenten sacrifices to prepare for the fasting that follows during the Lenten season. From there, it would evolve into what we have today, with the practice of Lent. Now we eat lots of food before fasting. In other countries that call Mardi Gras “Shrove Tuesday” instead of “Fat Tuesday” like the United Kingdom, the holiday can symbolize the administering of the sacrament of confession.
How Do Other Places Celebrate Mardi Gras?
We can’t all go to other countries to celebrate, but learning about what they do can give us an idea of how we can make a special celebration for ourselves. Here are some interesting places outside of New Orleans that know how to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Brazil
Mardi Gras is an international holiday, with places like Brazil drawing in 70% of their yearly tourism during what they call the Carnival period. People come from all around the world for the parades that fill the streets. People come to dance and listen to music for several weeks leading up to the holiday. Rio de Janeiro is the best and most popular location in Brazil to celebrate.
France
Like Brazil, France also celebrates Mardi Gras with gigantic parades and floats. Going as far back as 1294, Nice, France, in particular, attracts millions of visitors for their many parades. There’s a different theme for each parade float, sometimes numbering in eighteen at most. One of the most famous is the Battle of Flowers, where florists around the city collect up to 100,000 flowers. If someone’s lucky, they can grab one as they’re thrown into the crowds.
Alabama
It may be hard to believe, but New Orleans is not the only city in the United States that goes all out for the holiday. Mobile, Alabama has the oldest yearly Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, dating back to 1703 – older than the nation itself. They continued the tradition of parades, but also have masked balls and special recipes for the occasion. One is Moon Pie, a chocolate-covered, marshmallow-filled cake individually wrapped for each person.
Don’t Skip Mardi Gras, Celebrate at Cork Bar & Restaurant
At Cork Bar & Restaurant, we’re looking at food and celebrations around the world to make Mardi Gras night special for all of our guests. Chef Rawn and the team behind our food have set out to do something special for everyone.
Mardi Gras this year is March 1st, an easy date to remember. Reservations and prepayment are necessary, but you can reserve a spot for yourself and your friends. Call us at (570)-270-3818 to reserve a spot for this event. For regular dinners, make your reservation online.