On Tuesday, the Carnival season reached its peak with Mardi Gras parades, lively street gatherings, and a grand outdoor costume extravaganza around the vibrant bars and restaurants of New Orleans' French Quarter.
Partygoers adorned in capes, wigs, spandex, and feathers swayed to the rhythm of Latin music in front of St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square.
Beyond the narrow streets of the quarter, two parades steeped in tradition made their way through the city's Uptown neighborhood and onto Canal Street in the business district.
The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club led the procession, adorned in African-inspired attire, distributing the club's iconic hand-decorated coconuts, a tradition that dates back a century.
Following the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Rex, the King of Carnival, made his grand entrance down St. Charles Avenue, pausing for a ceremonial toast at a historic downtown building alongside Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a secular holiday with roots in Christian and Roman Catholic traditions. It consistently occurs on the day preceding Ash Wednesday and serves as a culmination of feasting and revelry before the onset of the solemn Lenten season.
"I was raised Catholic, so tomorrow's for repenting but today is for partying," Bethany Kraft, a regular visitor from Mobile, Alabama, said as she waited for parades with her husband Alex
New Orleans hosts the country's largest and most renowned Carnival celebration, complete with cherished traditions adored by locals. Additionally, it serves as a significant economic stimulus for the city, particularly evident in the bustling atmosphere of the French Quarter.
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"I don't feel like a stranger down here," remarked Renitta Haynes from Chattanooga, Tennessee, as she observed costumed revelers on Bourbon Street during the weekend. "Everyone is so friendly and approachable. I absolutely love it."
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New Orleans isn't the only city to go all out for Mardi Gras. Mobile, Alabama, which scheduled six parades for Tuesday, boasts the nation's oldest Mardi Gras celebration.
Carnival has a rich and vibrant history in Brazil. A typical Carnival day there begins around 7 a.m., as the first blocos — the free street parties — embark on their lively and colorful musical journey through the city's streets.
Drummers, stilt walkers, trumpet players and other performers, all dressed up and lacquered in glitter, attract thousands of followers.
Blocos are thematic, inspiring the costumes and songs of their followers. In Rio alone, the city authorized 500 street parties this year.
From the different street parties, which usually end in the evening, some revelers move onto the Sambadrome, where samba schools parade and compete to win the annual title.
Carnival has served as a platform for samba schools to express their grievances for a long time. During the festivities, percussionists displayed the message "Miners out" across the skins of their drums as they paraded through the Sambadrome on Sunday evening. Their message reached over 70,000 revelers and millions of viewers watching live on television.