Celebrated all over the world, Mardi Gras is a day for partying in the extreme. And of course, unless you're willing to fly to Rio de Janeiro, the absolute best place to visit Mardi Gras is where it began: New Orleans, USA.

Carnival season begins on Twelfth Night (January 6) with the first of nearly one hundred privately held masked balls. The French began the custom of celebrating Mardi Gras with grand balls in the mid-eightheenth century. The word "Carnival" comes from Latin, and roughly translates as "farewell to flesh." From the very beginning these Bacchanalian festivities were marked by lively behaviour, outrageous costumes and excessive eating and drinking.

Today, the fun starts at least four to six weeks before the actual date. Visitors begin to pack New Orleans the weekend before Mardi Gras, when the festivities really kick into high gear. Krewe parades begin rolling as early as January 7, with some having reserved "their parade day" as a tradition for years. In the early hours of Tuesday morning Zulu finally arrives, followed by Rex (the King of Carnival) before lunch. The dramatic torchlit parade of Comus was formerly the grand conclusion to the day's festivities, but at present Comus does not ride.

Despite all of the advance partying, however, once midnight arrives Mardi Gras is officially over. Beginning precisely at the stroke of twelve, mounted New Orleans police officers begin to reclaim Bourbon Street, and are quickly followed by street cleaning trucks and crews. For those who can't bear to call it a night, many bars in and around the French Quarter leave their doors open for a few more hours.

Mardi Gras Definitions

Ball: Krewe royalty, Debutantes and their consorts, are presented to club members and their guests at an annual masked ball. These balls are private affairs, and open to members only.

Boeuf Gras: Symbol of the last meat eaten before Lent, the fatted bull.

Captain: Leader of a krewe.

Colours: The official colours of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold and were selected by Rex in 1872. In 1892, the colors were given the following symbolic meanings: purple, to represent justice; green, to represent faith; and gold, to represent power.

Court: A krewe's King, Queen, Maids and Dukes.

Den: A krewe's headquarters.

Doubloons: Large, colourful coins, first thrown by the krewe of Rex in 1960. The correct way to claim one is by stepping on it quickly, rather than reaching for it.

Favour: A souvenir that a krewe member gives to friends.

Flambeau Carriers: Men who carry torches on long poles lit by kerosene to light the night parades.

King Cake: A pastry cake with a small plastic baby doll inside. The person who finds the doll is responsible for hosting the party and/or buying the cake the following year.

Krewe: Calling themselves the krewe of Comus, a private club marched in an unexpected moonlit parade in 1857, which supposedly gave birth to Mardi Gras as we know it today; now a term for a carnival organisation or club.

Mardi Gras: French for Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Maskers: Float riders and anyone dressed in costume.

"Throw Me Something, Mister!" Traditional request for throws from masker on a float.

Throws: Highly sought after beads, doubloons (commemorative coins bearing krewe insignia or theme), toys, flowers, or plastic cups thrown from floats to those who unashamedly beg and plead for them.

Mardi Gras Links

Krewe Central: the most comprehensive source of information available anywhere about Krewes and Mardi Gras like festivals throughout the US and world.

Mardi Gras Central: guide from the Krewe of Satchmo

Mardi Gras.com: more Mardi Gras webcams than you could possibly imagine, with continuing coverage year-round

Mardi Gras Madness: complete guide to Mardi Gras including King Cake recipe, build your own float instructions and a souvenir shop

Mardi Gras New Orleans.com: definitive source of information on all matters Bacchanalian

Mardi Gras World: Mardi Gras theme park

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