Millions around the world will celebrate Mardi Gras today, the final day before the Christian fasting and religious observance period of Lent begins. Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday," is the culmination of Carnival season, which officially starts each year on Jan. 6—the 12th day after Christmas—and concludes the day before Ash Wednesday. The celebrations include elaborate parades and feasting on traditional foods such as king cake.
Mardi Gras has roots in medieval European traditions and evolved from ancient Roman festivals into a global event. In the US, the festivities date to 1699, when French Canadian explorers arrived in the South. Though Mobile, Alabama, claims the first American Mardi Gras in 1703, New Orleans is now synonymous with the celebration—the city welcomes around 1.4 million visitors each year, generating roughly $900M in revenue. Today, iconic krewes like Rex and Zulu will parade through the city, marking the season's grand finale.
A typical New Orleans Mardi Gras generates nearly 100,000 pounds of discarded beads. See a team developing biodegradable beads here.
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