Mardi Gras Around the Country

While you can't say that Mardi Gras is a uniquely Louisianan event, you can say that the state has the market cornered on the amount of celebrations.  Still, there are others that celebrate as far and as wide as California, Michigan and even Wisconsin.  That means a lot of different styles of celebrating "Fat Tuesday."

California sees celebrations in San Diego and they even do it at the right time.  Others in San Francisco seem to think it out to be celebrated in May.  LaCrosse, Wisconsin has theirs in January.  I can only imagine that this would be an indoor event because January in Wisconsin can be mighty cold.  Just ask anybody that knows football.  It's a state you don't want to go outside in during this coldest of months.

Some people that settled in Detroit, Michigan have celebrated Mardi Gras, but this has since turned into something very different.  Polish settlers in Michigan have created a day that they empty the pantries of any and all lard and they do it in a tasty way that will make you gain about 10 pounds in a single day.  Fat Tuesday has become Paczki (pronounced poonch-kee) Day, where these pastries that can only be described as a doughnut on steroids are made for anyone that even remotely enjoys breakfast, lunch, dinner or any other excuse to eat.

While there are many ways to celebrate, the point is the same thing for all.  Have a great time, enjoy the party and take the time to be with friends and family, whether it be with an overly huge pastry or an overly huge collection of beads.

Happy Mardi Gras!