Written by: Phil Zhang Photography and video: Phil Zhang Annie Xie
On March 1, despite the single-digit temperature, the streets of St. Louis were already bustling with people coming from all directions to the Soulard neighborhood to participate in the annual Mardi Gras celebration.
Participants wore bright clothes, and the girls changed into shorts early in the cold. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder, the food was full of smoke, and the music was accompanied by the hawking of special food.
In the sky, planes slowly passed by with festive slogans; on the ground, Harley motorcycles led the way, deafening. Colorful floats appeared one after another.
People shouted at the top of their lungs, and the cars and cars were all loud, and the symbolic beads were flying all over the sky. People were passionate and wanton, which not only showed their enthusiasm for the festival, but also reflected people's spirit of "enjoying the present and releasing themselves".
Today's parade started at 10:00 a.m. and lasted more than two hours.
Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") has its roots in European Christian traditions and was first celebrated by Catholics in France, Spain and Portugal. It marks the last carnival before "Lent", with people enjoying rich food and entertainment before the fasting period begins.
Mardi Gras in St. Louis originated in the 19th century when the city was a French colony and inherited the Mardi Gras culture of New Orleans. Since the 1980s, the celebration has gradually expanded and has become the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States after New Orleans.
It is usually held in the French Soulard neighborhood. It lasts for more than a month and includes parades and dog parades, long-distance running, neighborhood restaurant tastings and a series of parties for residents.
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