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AMERICAN FESTIVALS
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Mardi Gras - New Orleans
Although Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world,
no one does it like New Orleans. Every year, more
than 4 million people come to New Orleans from around
the world to be part of what is often billed as
the "greatest free party on Earth."
Mardi Gras came to New Orleans in 1699 through the
French explorer Iberville. Early explorers celebrated
this French Holiday on the banks of the Mississippi
River. The city of New Orleans starts a variety
of festivities in January that ends with Mardi Gras
Day, or Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras means "Fat
Tuesday" and is celebrated on that day of the
week. The date can occur between February 3 and
March 9 (47 days before Easter Sunday). Visitors
and residents participate in the parades and sometimes
dress up in costumes while tossing beads. The official
colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold.
These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of
Carnival, Rex. |
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Fiesta San Antonio
It first began in 1891 and is one of this nation's
premiere festivals and the biggest celebration in
Texas. Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day, city-wide,
fun-filled, multi-cultural, family-oriented celebration.
There are literally hundreds of Fiesta events all
over San Antonio during the celebration, some of
which draw a half-million or more people to a single
area in a single night. |
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Pageant of the Masters
Pageant of the Masters is an annual favorite in
southern California's Laguna Beach that takes place
each night during the summer season. This festival
features Ninety minutes of "living pictures,"
faithful recreations of famous classical and contemporary
art works with real people posing to look exactly
like their counterparts in the original pieces. |
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Tournament of Roses, Pasadena,
California
The Tournament of Roses was first initiated in 1890
by members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. Most
floats are built by professional float-building
companies and volunteers from sponsoring communities
and approximately takes nearly a year to build.
The shows takes place every New Year's morning where
million of viewers and tourists enjoy the Rose Parade. |
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The National Cherry Blossom
Festival
This is the most beautiful time of year to visit
the nation's capital, when 3,000 Japanese cherry
trees bloom and the fresh smell of spring is in
the air. The Cherry Blossom Festival takes place
in the spring each year, and the dates change depending
on when they think peak blooming time will be. |
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