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Monday, February 8, 2016

Tomorrow is Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French. With Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period of fasting before Easter, Mardi Gras is the last hurrah of sorts, with participants indulging in their favorite foods and drinks before giving them up.

It is also known as 'Shrove Tuesday' on religious calendars. The expression Shrove Tuesday comes from the word shrive, meaning "absolve". Many Christians make a special point of self-examination, considering what wrongs they need to repent and ask God's help in dealing with.

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Today's Random Fact:

Masked balls have been a part of the Mardi Gras tradition dating back to the French settlers that arrived in the South in the early 1700s. Hidden behind masks decorated in beads, feathers and glittery fabric, revelers could behave without inhibition, to an extent that for a time in the early 19th century, masked party goers were outlawed in New Orleans. The mask prohibition ended by the mid-1820s, and were once again legal.

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Bonus Fact:

Masks are a fun part of Mardi Gras, but if you are riding on a float, don't leave home without one. It is illegal to ride on a Mardi Gras parade float in New Orleans without wearing a mask.