It's Always Mardi Gras in New Orleans: Difference between revisions

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Logically, you would think this trope would not apply if the characters are visiting a given area specifically to attend its popular festival, but this is often the ''only'' time said area is ever mentioned in fiction, as if people don't have mundane lives in New Orleans.
Logically, you would think this trope would not apply if the characters are visiting a given area specifically to attend its popular festival, but this is often the ''only'' time said area is ever mentioned in fiction, as if people don't have mundane lives in New Orleans.


It's worth noting that "''Mardi Gras''" is French for "Fat Tuesday," and that it originated as a Catholic tradition of feasting before the fasting period known as Lent, which starts at midnight as Fat Tuesday becomes Ash Wednesday. It did not originate in New Orleans, and the American tradition most viewers are familiar with actually originated in Mobile, Alabama. It is part of a much larger worldwide Carnival event, and [[The Other Wiki]] has a page on it [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival here].
It's worth noting that "''Mardi Gras''" is French for "Fat Tuesday," and that it originated as a Catholic tradition of feasting before the fasting period known as Lent, which starts at midnight as Fat Tuesday becomes Ash Wednesday. It did not originate in New Orleans, and the American tradition most viewers are familiar with actually originated in Mobile, Alabama. It is part of a much larger worldwide Carnival event, and [[The Other Wiki]] has a page on it [[wikipedia:Carnival|here]].


Also note: Mardi Gras is a rather long festival, with parades spread out over about two months with the various New Orleans area cities (Slidell and Metairie especially). Though this doesn't excuse the trope entirely, there are 40+ parades that run through the season, so having the character(s) visit during a Mardi Gras parade is not as coincidental as it may seem (especially if they visit during January, February, or March), as there are other parades that occur on random weekends - the Krewe of Boo, for instance, runs the week before Halloween. Though not all parades during the year use the same purple-green-gold coloring, having that distinctive color scheme instantly sets the stage for the rest of the scene.
Also note: Mardi Gras is a rather long festival, with parades spread out over about two months with the various New Orleans area cities (Slidell and Metairie especially). Though this doesn't excuse the trope entirely, there are 40+ parades that run through the season, so having the character(s) visit during a Mardi Gras parade is not as coincidental as it may seem (especially if they visit during January, February, or March), as there are other parades that occur on random weekends - the Krewe of Boo, for instance, runs the week before Halloween. Though not all parades during the year use the same purple-green-gold coloring, having that distinctive color scheme instantly sets the stage for the rest of the scene.
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* In ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Film)|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', the League is first assembled in London, in a very wet and foggy ''July'' as a title-card makes clear; and their first assignment takes them to Venice, during Venice's signature festival, Carnival. This, of course, is the exact same holiday as Mardi Gras or Shrovetide -- the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, thus the day on which Catholics overindulge in vices and partying before beginning their Lenten fast. Ash Wednesday is 40 days before Easter, therefore Carnival ''never'' falls in late summer in the northern hemisphere.
* In ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Film)|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', the League is first assembled in London, in a very wet and foggy ''July'' as a title-card makes clear; and their first assignment takes them to Venice, during Venice's signature festival, Carnival. This, of course, is the exact same holiday as Mardi Gras or Shrovetide -- the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, thus the day on which Catholics overindulge in vices and partying before beginning their Lenten fast. Ash Wednesday is 40 days before Easter, therefore Carnival ''never'' falls in late summer in the northern hemisphere.
* The [[James Bond (Film)|James Bond]] movie ''[[Moonraker (Film)|Moonraker]]'' also has a Carnival scene in Rio. And ''[[Thunderball (Film)|Thunderball]]'' has a Junkanoo ("Our local Mardi Gras") scene in the Bahamas.
* The [[James Bond (Film)|James Bond]] movie ''[[Moonraker (Film)|Moonraker]]'' also has a Carnival scene in Rio. And ''[[Thunderball (Film)|Thunderball]]'' has a Junkanoo ("Our local Mardi Gras") scene in the Bahamas.
** Averted in ''[[Live and Let Die (Film)|Live and Let Die]]'', of all things. It's actually not Mardi Gras when Bond visits [[The Big Easy]]. The parades of people dancing on Bourbon Street are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_funeral funeral processions].
** Averted in ''[[Live and Let Die (Film)|Live and Let Die]]'', of all things. It's actually not Mardi Gras when Bond visits [[The Big Easy]]. The parades of people dancing on Bourbon Street are [[wikipedia:Jazz funeral|funeral processions]].
** For what it's worth, [[Jonn|we]] generally have Junkanoo on Boxing Day (Dec 26th), and New Years, (barring delays) but currently have smaller performances yearly for tourists.
** For what it's worth, [[Jonn|we]] generally have Junkanoo on Boxing Day (Dec 26th), and New Years, (barring delays) but currently have smaller performances yearly for tourists.
** Of course, the one time Bond visits Siena (''[[Quantum of Solace (Film)|Quantum of Solace]]''), it's during the annual ''Palio di Siena'' horse-race that completely takes over the city's central plaza. Predictably, Bond gets into a footchase and firefight with a baddie right in the middle of it.
** Of course, the one time Bond visits Siena (''[[Quantum of Solace (Film)|Quantum of Solace]]''), it's during the annual ''Palio di Siena'' horse-race that completely takes over the city's central plaza. Predictably, Bond gets into a footchase and firefight with a baddie right in the middle of it.
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* Anthony references this trope in the Brazil episode of the travel/food show ''[[Anthony Bourduain]]: No Reservations'', and also averts it; they're four months early for Carnivale. They do stop by at a dance school, though.
* Anthony references this trope in the Brazil episode of the travel/food show ''[[Anthony Bourduain]]: No Reservations'', and also averts it; they're four months early for Carnivale. They do stop by at a dance school, though.
** His post-Katrina New Orleans episode is a complete aversion. Tony came there not at the time of Mardi Gras, focused only on how people struggle to [[Incredibly Lame Pun|stay]] [[Too Soon|afloat]], and showcased the destruction the hurricane brought. Tony, in a [[Deadpan Snarker|very uncharacteristic tone]], showed how much of a big deal deal [[Comfort Food]] is during the time of tragedy.
** His post-Katrina New Orleans episode is a complete aversion. Tony came there not at the time of Mardi Gras, focused only on how people struggle to [[Incredibly Lame Pun|stay]] [[Too Soon|afloat]], and showcased the destruction the hurricane brought. Tony, in a [[Deadpan Snarker|very uncharacteristic tone]], showed how much of a big deal deal [[Comfort Food]] is during the time of tragedy.
* The ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' TOS episode ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Masks The Masks]'' takes place during Mardi Gras, though it occurs indoors so we don't see the actual festival.
* The ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' TOS episode ''[[wikipedia:The Masks|The Masks]]'' takes place during Mardi Gras, though it occurs indoors so we don't see the actual festival.
* In the Season 1 episode "Machismo" of ''Criminal Minds'', the BAU team arrive in Mexico on, you guessed it, the Day of the Dead.
* In the Season 1 episode "Machismo" of ''Criminal Minds'', the BAU team arrive in Mexico on, you guessed it, the Day of the Dead.
* In season one of ''[[Treme]]'', an entire episode is devoted to Mardi Gras 2006, the first after Hurricane Katrina. However, the season's actual climax comes on St. Joseph's Day.
* In season one of ''[[Treme]]'', an entire episode is devoted to Mardi Gras 2006, the first after Hurricane Katrina. However, the season's actual climax comes on St. Joseph's Day.
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** Standup comedian Martine Bijl wrote a song about this (''"Limburgs Klaaglied"'': "Limburger Lament"). It's about a girl whose mother is from the nothernmost province (Fryslân), while they both live in Limburg with her Limburger father, trying to understand why people are so excited about carnaval.
** Standup comedian Martine Bijl wrote a song about this (''"Limburgs Klaaglied"'': "Limburger Lament"). It's about a girl whose mother is from the nothernmost province (Fryslân), while they both live in Limburg with her Limburger father, trying to understand why people are so excited about carnaval.
** It's always Queensday, too.
** It's always Queensday, too.
* If the media is to be believed, a small town in Virginia named Chincoteague doesn't even EXIST save for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Penning Pony Penning] Days. We never see what happens there the rest of the year.
* If the media is to be believed, a small town in Virginia named Chincoteague doesn't even EXIST save for [[wikipedia:Pony Penning|Pony Penning]] Days. We never see what happens there the rest of the year.
* [[Indianapolis]] gets this bad. The only time the city is ever mentioned is during the Indy 500 race.
* [[Indianapolis]] gets this bad. The only time the city is ever mentioned is during the Indy 500 race.
** The Indianapolis Colts get a fair amount of coverage, especially the last decade.
** The Indianapolis Colts get a fair amount of coverage, especially the last decade.
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[[Category:Hollywood Atlas]]
[[Category:Hollywood Atlas]]
[[Category:Its Always Mardi Gras In New Orleans]]
[[Category:Its Always Mardi Gras In New Orleans]]
[[Category:It's Always Mardi Gras in New Orleans]]
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