LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Mardi Gras: French Holiday
built 118 days ago
Many of the customs associated with the Cajun country Mardi Gras can be traced back to ancient European rituals,passed down for generations through many cultures and brought to southwest Louisiana by early French and Acadian settlers. In some communities the Mardi Gras run has been interrupted and later revived by circumstances including World Wars and celebratory rowdiness. It was discontinued altogether in some places earlier in the 20th century.
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In 1964, Arthur Jacobs, an ex-police officer looking to drum up some business for his French Quarter restaurant, Clover Grill, started a Mardi Gras costume contest called The Bourbon Street Awards. It became a showcase for female impersonators and risqué creativity, attracting spectators and camera crews from around the globe.
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Now, as in the old days, masking brings some of the mystery back to Mardi Gras. The old ways put excitement back into the holiday the way it was meant to be.
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French Holiday