Translated from the French, Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, the last fling before the 40 days of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday. What better time to visit New Orleans, the hub of Mardi Gras activities!
The ancient Romans began the tradition, with a celebration of Lupercalia. And the first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States was actually held in Mobile, Alabama.
But in the late 1700s, New Orleans began to affix its mark on the celebration while still under French rule. The French king gave the territory away to his Spanish cousin, whose representatives nixed the pagan festivities. But along came the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and by 1823 the new governor permitted masked balls and street masking was again legal by 1827. In 1872, the official Mardi Gras colors were selected: purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power).
So today, in the spirit of the Mardi Gras, I'm beaming myself from Orleans, Massachusetts, to New Orleans, Louisiana, to revisit my doorway--one of my favorites from the Doorways to the Past Series.
For those who are interested, this piece was stitched almost completely with DMC perle cotton and floss. The hanging ferns and greenery in the potted geraniums were stitched with Caron Impressions.
3 comments:
Going to New Orleans has always been lots of fun before hurricane Katrina. Not been there ever since though. It used to be such a special and unique town before this disaster. Hope that it will return to its past glory one of these days :-)
Pierrette =^..^=
I'm giving up sloth for Lent - but unfortunately, today I can't indulge in it for one more day - deadline pushing. The door is a beauty. It's amazing what simple threads like DMC cottons can do with the right colors and stitches well placed.
OH NO, not sloth! I hadn't even given that a thought until you mentioned it. Thanks alot.
And Anne, the door is lovely, thanks for sharing it.
Madonna
Slothing off to bed while I still have the chance. ;)
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