Catholic traditions connect the people of New Orleans in many ways, and are woven throughout the culture.

But that definitely doesn't stop them from throwing the country 's biggest party, and the world 's most infamous parade.

Hi, I'm Barry Kern and I'm President here of Mardi Gras World in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras is a celebration, it pre - dates the city itself. It came here with the founding of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans,

but it also goes back thousands of years before that. It actually pre - dates Christianity.

This was a celebration. It was started to compete with the paganistic rites of spring.

Mardi Gras is French for " Fat Tuesday ".

During the Catholic Lenten Season, Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a time for fasting and quiet reflection.

So the people of New Orleans pack in as much fun and feasting as they can right up to the very last minute.