"And I will lay my burden down Rest my head upon that shore"

I am supposed to be finishing a last minute class assignment but I can’t bring myself to start just yet. For 20 years of my life I was up at the crack of dawn getting ready while seasonal music played loudly and my dad sang along as he shaved for a day filled with delicious food, family, music, crowds, and an obscene amount of beads...yes Mardi Gras.

As you may have noticed, my family is always ready for a party...Mardi Gras was no exception.

That being said, I grew up with a fairly healthy respect and rather unhealthy love for this somewhat gluttonous but amazing season. That's right, season. We start celebrating way in January on twelfth night and it just keeps growing and culminates on the Tuesday that is fat.

As a kid, I was obsessed with the mysticism of early Mardi Gras traditions. I loved any PBS documentary about krewes of yesteryear and I longed to attend a old fashion Mardi Gras ball where you identity was a secret hidden behind a beautifully pompous gown and mask. In elementary school we had shoe box float making contests and a mini parade. In 4th grade I had to do a project board and my topic, of course, was the history of Mardi Gras. I had fun reading all the old books and looking at pictures of the elaborate handmade invitations and bedazzled everythings....

Have I convinced you enough of my ridiculous love of this holiday where the average person just likes to get drunk and stuff their faces while the average New Orleanian uses the break as an excuse to go skiing? While I see nothing wrong with looking at Mardi Gras as just a day of food & drink, it is so much more to me.

Since I cannot go into the significance and history of Mardi Gras at this moment, to understand the warm fuzzies I feel I suggest listening to this link. Most Mardi Gras songs are heavy with loud raucous music and Zydeco, I love them, however Paul Simon epitomizes it for me. His words describe how my city makes everything better. His chill samba-esque drag with light cymbals and raked drums exemplifies how seasoned locals stroll to their own beat while tourists go manic. It's nostalgic, reverent, dreamy, and endearing. The song ends with the perfect example of New Orleans jazz and the famous spirit of revelry, a prevalent trumpet honks loudly and drunkenly while a clarinet carelessly moves up and down the scale and throws  its voice like a laughing middle aged women dancing in the street. (My mother & I often rewound the song just to hear the end again, we always thought it could have went on longer)

Bake a makeshift King Cake and wherever you find yourself in this country, try to have a little personal Mardi Gras before we begin the 40 days of penance and reflect on both the sorrowful pain and joyful gift of Christ's death. God wants us to be happy, that's why He made us and that's why we have Mardi Gras.

And as I leave you with the lyrics of Paul Simon's song, I beg you to take a hint from us in NOLA and Laissez les bons temps rouler! <3

C'mon take me to the Mardi Gras

 Where the people sing and play

Where the dancing is elite

And there's music in the street

Both night and day

Hurry take me to the Mardi Gras

In the city of my dreams

You can legalize your lows

You can wear your summer clothes

In the New Orleans

And I will lay my burden down

Rest my head upon that shore

And when I wear that starry crown

I won't be wanting anymore

Take your burdens to the Mardi Gras

Let the music wash your soul

You can mingle in the street

You can jingle to the beat

Of Jelly Roll