FAT Tuesday: mardi gras 2012, mardi gras, king cake, jambalaya, lint

Fat Tuesday celebrations in full swing in New Orleans

Revelers hit the streets today to celebrate Mardi Gras, lured to the French Quarter and stately oak-lined avenues by the chance to snag beads and baubles from seemingly endless parades in the final unfettered party before the somber season of Lent.

The French Quarter was full of costumed revelers. Wearing a bright orange wig, a purple mask and green shoes, New Orleans resident Charlotte Hamrick walked along Canal Street to meet friends.

"I'll be in the French Quarter all day," Hamrick said. "I don't even go to the parades. I love to take pictures of all the costumes and just be with my friends. It's so fun."

Along St. Charles, groups of people, many in costumes, breakfasted as children played in the street. Small marching groups were already on the move. The Skeleton Krewe, 25 people dressed in black skeleton outfits, were on their way to the St. Louis Cathedral.

Tom White, 46, clad in a pink tu-tu, bicycled down the avenue with his wife, Allison, on their way to the French Quarter. "I'm the pink fairy this year," said White. Allison White was not in costume. "He's disgraced the family enough," she said of her husband.

But Tom White was in the spirit of the day. "Costuming is the real fun of Mardi Gras. I'm not too creative but when you weigh 200 pounds and put on a tu-tu people still take your picture."

Ann Heisenfelt/The Associated PressRevelers grab for a strand of beads in a bag during the Rex Mardi Gras parade in this 2008 file photo. Fat Tuesday is today.

The stakeout for prime spots along the Mardi Gras parade route started Monday, with legions of Carnival die-hards jockeying for the best places to vie for beads thrown from floats on Fat Tuesday.

Stephanie Chapman and her family had set up in their usual spot on the St. Charles streetcar tracks. They'd arrive at 4 a.m. today and would be staying for the duration. "This is a beautiful day and we'll be here until it's over. It won't rain on my parade, But if it does I won't pay any attention," she said.

Across the Gulf Coast, Mardi Gras was getting into full swing. In the Cajun country of southwest Louisiana, masked riders were preparing to go from town to town, making merry along the way in the Courir du Mardi Gras. And parades were scheduled elsewhere around Louisiana and on the Mississippi and Alabama coasts. The celebration arrived in Louisiana in 1682 when the explorer LaSalle and his party stopped at a place they called Bayou Mardi Gras south of New Orleans to celebrate. The site is now lost to history.

Source: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/fat_tuesday_celebrations_in_fu.html