Mardi Gras 2005

[kjun]

It is without glee that I report to you that Mardi Gras in New Orleans was a big flop. Less attendance than I have ever seen at a Mardi Gras. Crowds were so slim that the hotels dropped the requirement of a three day stay. Bars were not crowded as in past years. Wonder what's going on?

 

the Cajun

[+ Charlie]

Commentary that I have read suggests that it was because Mardi Gras came unusually early this year, before people were ready for another holiday, and before mid-semester break for schools. Also, the bad weather didn't help.

[Guest baba]

I also heard that there was a decrease in crowds due to being Super Bowl weekend. Seems lots of people went to the game rather than the party!

[paulsf]

There was no shortage of people in Rio for Carnival.

Everything was packed. Flights, Hotels, Restaurants

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Rio WAS packed... but one amazing party!

 

You must have had a bird's-eye-view, eh Paul?

 

 

BN

[Guest showme43]

I hope that's not the story for Mardi Gras in Sydney in a couple weeks...I'll report back :-)

[bigguyinpasadena]

I am so glad attendance was down this year.Serves them right for listening to a bunch of fundies trying to take our fun away.

Yeahhhhh-give in to the xtian right and lose money!

[Chuck50]

Does that mean that you are going? Showme? HUGS Chuck

[Guest showme43]

yes!!!! 2 weeks in a land downunder

 

sorry I missed you when you were in O-town, hope you had fun.

 

Rick

[Guest]

>I hope that's not the story for Mardi Gras in Sydney in a

>couple weeks...I'll report back :-)

 

I thought Mardi Gras would be the same in both northern and southern hemisphere calendars. Do they celebrate Mardi Gras during lent in Australia for some reason???

[Paul Revere]

>>I hope that's not the story for Mardi Gras in Sydney in a

>>couple weeks...I'll report back :-)

>

>I thought Mardi Gras would be the same in both northern and

>southern hemisphere calendars. Do they celebrate Mardi Gras

>during lent in Australia for some reason???

 

Sydney Mardi Gras has nothing to do with the Lenten clandar, and it has no connection to any religious themes.

 

Sydney tried having their gay pride celebration at the end of June like many places in the U.S. to commemeorate the the Stonewall riots. But in the Southern Hemisphere June is the middle of Winter, and it realy didn't work for them. So they moved their Gay Pride celebration to the end of February/beginning of March because that is the last weekend of their summer. It is a huge fun celebration, and it is called Mardi Gras because it is fun and they wear costumes, but it has nothing to do with Lenten traditions The last week of February is the last week before kids start school for the year in Australia. Their summer vacation runs December to February. It is as if we had gay pride on Labor Day weekend.

 

Sydney Mardi Gras is a unique blast and everyone should go at least once.