Why Everyone Should Be Celebrating Mardi Gras
First, a little word-history lesson: Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday and refers to the tradition of eating richer foods before the ritual fasting of Lent, which begins the next day, a.k.a. Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is also called Shrove Tuesday, from the English word shrive, which means ‘to confess’ — referring to the penitence given before the start of Lent. This year, Mardi Gras is Tuesday, February 9th.
So, what makes the holiday so great?
It’s a huge PARTY!
People all over the world celebrate Mardi Gras by wearing masks and costumes and dancing in the streets to live, uptempo music. Other popular ways to celebrate include overturning social conventions (dressing up lavishly and taking to the streets), dancing, engaging in sports competitions, parading, and generally being debaucherous.
Mardi Gras isn’t just a day; it’s a way to celebrate life.
Paper Plus has so many great Mardi Gras accessories, including:
Masks
We have beautiful feather masks, ornate jeweled masks, simple masks, masks ready for a DIY design, headbands, and butterfly masks.
Beads and Coins
Our selection of Mardi Gras beads is HUGE, with everything from the cheaper throwing beads to beautiful costume strands. We also carry bead earrings and Mardi Gras ‘doubloons’, which are coins to be thrown out into the crowds!
Costumery
We carry all the Mardi Gras costume accessories, including glasses, mustaches, and tiaras. Don’t forget your hat — we have top hats, crowns, and many more!
Party Supplies
A Mardi Gras party cannot be complete without some colorful gold, purple and green decorations. Think balloons (we carry latex and mylar balloons in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes), colorful plates and napkins, door hangings, and banners.
We at Paper Plus think it’s time to join together and embrace Mardi Gras, the holiday for the people! Come visit our North Berkeley store and get your own ideas for a great Fat Tuesday celebration.
Looking for something special or out of the ordinary? Our friendly staff are ready to help you find it at (510) 525-1799.
