BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As residents across much of the country take down their holiday decorations, sobered by New Year’s resolutions and a return to business as usual, in Louisiana people are ramping up for the biggest celebration of the year.
Throughout the state residents are preparing for Carnival season, a pre-Lenten and weeks-long bash that includes feasting on savory dishes, opulent balls and a stream of massive parades rolling through city streets.
The bucket-list worthy period of festivities promises indulgence, costumed revelry and literal pounds of glimmery plastic beads to carry around one’s neck. Here’s what to know about Carnival.
What is Carnival?
Carnival in Louisiana and around the world is rooted in Christian and Roman Catholic traditions. It’s marked by feasting, drinking and revelry before Ash Wednesday and the fasting associated with Lent, the Christian season of preparation for Easter.