Have you ever wondered what a Mardi Gras was like? Let me tell you, if you aren't in the mood for fun, then don't even travel to be at one.

Mardi Gras is a celebration of the end of winter and the beginning of spring, which is celebrated between Christmas and Easter.

From what I have heard and read, the Mardi Gras was started back in the 1600, and still goes strong to this day. The Mardi Gras is celebrated in many states besides Louisiana and Alabama but the biggest one is in New Orleans, La. The mood is set for fun the whole day long from eating, parades to partying.

The floats in the parades are all hand made, which you can go and watch them making them and you can also make arrangements to ride on a float in the parades if you so wish. The Mardi Gras last four days. People gather from all around to celebrate.

If you have children, I would suggest you not take them to view the parade on Bourbon Street. I would suggest you take them to St. Charles Ave, between First Street and Napoleon. They can see the parade and not be subjected to the going's on, on Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street has a lot of drunks and flashers. Yes I said flashers. There are a lot of women that just love to show there chest to the public. That is one reason I suggest not taking your children there. And you got your sloppy drunk people. The area consist of a lot of college students out to have a lot of fun, which includes getting drunk and showing off their chest to get a few beads and to be noticed. There are a lot of New Orleans finest there on horses and walking the beat, that look the other way when you flash your boobs, but don't get sloppy drunk and make a fool of yourself, the cop will have you in handcuffs in a heart beat. Something else kids shouldn't have to witness in their young life. And you have the drunks that want to pick a fight with someone, they too end up in handcuffs and is hauled off. You got to understand, booze is flowing on Bourbon Street. There are quite a few bars there, you walk in and order a drink and walk out carrying it while you walk down the street. They make a killing on booze there.

They have parades a couple times a day. The floats come passing by with people dressed up with fancy costumes, beads and mask on. A very colorful event. The people on the floats throw beads, toys, king cakes and other goodies out to the crowd. You won't leave the place without a ton of beads or other trinkets that the float people threw out.

The strings beads are usually purple, green and gold. These colors of beads became the Mardi Gras colors back in 1892. The purple stands for justice, the green stands for faith, and the gold stands for power. They are neat to collect at the time, but what do you do with all of them once you get back home? Dump them in a box and put them in a corner of the garage, or in the attic or how about crafts? I have mine hanging in my computer room collecting dust bunnies.

The Mardi Gras is a fun thing to go to. Interesting to see the floats in the parade and wonder how they could come up with the design, and then make it and it is very interesting to see all the crowds, and wonder where all these people come from.