As the eldest of five siblings, my memories of past Mardi Gras seasons are either chaotic (at the parades) or boring (at home). My father was a merchant marine and

How did Mardi Gras, a religious holiday, become a time to cut loose and party hard? It originated from French tradition and began as an annual carnival celebration in Louisiana in the 1700s. Today, it has become a month-long event in New Orleans with parades through the French Quarter,