February means Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras (which means Fat Tuesday) is celebrated all over the world on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. However, in New Orleans, where the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the world is held, the partying goes on for weeks, so no time of year is more fun for you to host a party yourself. And, a Mardi Gras party is easy to host. Your guests will have fun just mingling, admiring each others’ masks and enjoying the food and drink. Here are some “must have” elements for a Mardi Gras Party.

Invitations that set the mood

Your invitations will let your guests know in advance that the mood is fun and festive. MyExpression.com has great invitations for a Mardi Gras party; just fill in your details and go! Be sure to let your guests know that they should wear an appropriate Mardi Gras mask to the party, unless you plan to supply them.

Festive Food

Finger foods are great for Mardi Gras. Shrimp, crab and crawfish are musts! If you’re serving dinner, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee and red beans and rice are real crowd pleasers. Other favorite Cajun specialties include oysters, gumbo and dirty rice. For traditional desserts try beignets, pralines and King Cake. Consider serving Hurricanes and Mint Juleps from the bar and don’t forget the chicory coffee to go with that King Cake.

Baubles

Beads, beads, and more beads are a must for any Mardi Gras event. Many Mardi Gras parties I’ve attended use beads as prizes for winning quick games that are played throughout the evening. Then, the man and woman who have collected the most beads at the end of the evening are crowned King and Queen of Mardi Gras. Doubloons are a great favor, too. Doubloons are aluminum coin-like objects bearing an insignia. Be certain to have feather boas on hand for your female guests. Many Mardi Gras celebrations offer lots of small prizes throughout the evening, too.

Jazz

No Mardi Gras party is complete without some New Orleans jazz music and some traditional Zydeco music. If you’re giving a party at home, you likely don’t have space for a band, but you can get the same effect with cd’s. Dancing is an important part of a traditional Mardi Gras celebration. If you can clear room for a small dance floor, do so.

Costumes

Consider making your Mardi Gras party a costume party. Costumes are a traditional part of Mardi Gras and will add to the party’s atmosphere. Don’t forget to have a prize for best costume.

Remember that Mardi Gras is all about decadence. Mardi Gras is a festival of “letting loose” before the fasting and penance of lent begins. So, when you’re planning your Mardi Gras party, remember that more is, well, more! Too much food, too much drink, too much music and too much fun are the essential elements of a great Mardi Gras party. You and your friends are destined to have one last blast before Lent calms you down!