The first ever Mardi Gras was held during 1833 and the New Orleans's signature celebration has never looked back since.

Mardi Gras, which means Fat Tuesday in French, traditionally starts on 12th Night (January 6th) and lasts for about two weeks until ending on the Tuesday before Lent. It hearkens back to old Christian ceremonies held in preparation for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season but is now a never-ending display of parades, masked balls and king cake parties.

Tourists flock to New Orleans, especially for the final Mardi Gras weekend, and are entertained by the many parades that are organized by the Carnival Krewes. The Krewes are traditional groups of revelers - some groups over 100 years old - that either parade during the carnival, arrange masked balls or both. One of the highlights of the carnival, as far as guests are concerned, are the 'throws', being the small toys and party favors that the Krewe members throw off the floats to them.

The most lavish masked ball held during the Mardi Gras must be the Final Ball which concludes with 'the Meeting of the Courts', a spectacular ceremony where the King and Queen of Carnival meet with the King and Queen of the Mistick Krewe of Comus (the oldest of the Carnival Krewes). Other highlights include the many king cake parties that are held throughout the celebration where guests are challenged to find small tokens in the braided frosted coffee cake that is one of the Mardi Gras's most sought after delicacies.

Guests are welcome to dress up during the final two days of the celebration, being the Monday and Tuesday that are known as Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras respectively. Good costume ideas would be those that feature traditional Mardi Gras symbols like the Fleur de Lis and the Faces of Comedy and Drama and then to top off the ensemble with a feathered mask.

Walking through the streets dressed to the nines during the New Orleans carnival season with its doubloons, flambeau and Zulu Coconuts is an unforgettable experience that everyone should have at least once.