For Lent this year I gave up asking people what Lent is about. I honestly don’t get it, but I won’t ask about it again until after whatever day it is that Lent is over. Maybe Easter?
The few things I know about this holiday season I learned by going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. But then I went to Carnevale in Venice last year and learned some different stuff. I’ve listed some of the more interesting contrasts below. Any questions?
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Mardi Gras |
Carnevale |
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Beverage of Choice |
24 ounce Hurricane in a souvenir cup |
A lovely glass of Chianti |
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Food of Choice |
Supersized Po’ Boys with a Jambalaya chaser |
Frutti di Mer in a delicate white wine sauce served over homemade pasta |
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Catchphrase |
Lose your bra for Mardi Gras! |
Ciao Bella! |
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Primary Activity |
Drinking Hurricanes on Bourbon Street |
Strolling arm in arm beside moonlit canals |
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Secondary Activity |
Drinking Hurricanes on Bourbon Street |
Sipping cappuccino |
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Men’s Attire |
Stained T-shirt, jeans and beer soaked wig |
A low-key selection from the Armani for Carnevale costume collection |
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Women’s Attire |
Daisy Dukes and any old shirt; it’s coming off anyway |
Tasteful, handcrafted period costume |
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Masks |
Plastic, made in China |
Handpainted porcelain or glass crafted by a master Maskmaker |
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Parades |
Yep. Lots of ’em |
Mi scusi? |
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Krewes |
Rex, Zulu, Comus, Orpheus, Proteus, Bacchus, Hermes, Muses, Druids…how much time do you have? |
Mi scusi? |
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Easter Day Activity |
Nibbling on chocolate bunnies |
Mass in Latin at St. Mark’s |
The NOLA comps with Venice spot on! You may want to add the Drive Thru Ashes in Metarie, La. Let’s see: smoky, old liquor car vs. Renaissance church?
Tempting as it sounds, I do not plan to visit NOLA again! I went to Mardi Gras by choice (it seemed like a good idea at the time) and then went to NOLA a second time for business. But enough is enough. No need for me to verify again. Happy to go back to Venice though and make sure I got that part right!