Exactly 45 days before Easter, Mardi Gras (March 4) is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, is a day of celebration for many of gorging on rich foods with family and friends before the fasting begins.

When this holiday, known for its beads colored purple, green, gold and white, is mentioned the city of celebration that typically comes to mind is New Orleans, Louisiana…party on Bourbon Street! But contrary to popular belief, New Orleans is not the birthplace of the first Mardi Gras, but Mobile, Alabama was.

However, as shocking as New Orleans not bestowing the first Carnival (Mardi Gras) is, what many do not know is St. Louis is home to the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States next to New Orleans.

The tradition of the grand Carnival in St. Louis began in 1980 when a man named Hilary Clemens and his friends decided to get together at a building Clemens owned in the historic French neighborhood of Soulard where they got instruments and paraded around in beads and boas to a nearby bar.

Ironically enough, they got turned away…but their tradition remains.

The building in which the friends had all gathered was named Hilary’s and later changed it’s name to Johnny’s Restaurant and Bar which still stands today.

Just like New Orleans, Soulard hosts many Mardi Gras parties throughout the months preceding this celebration.

Beginning on Jan. 6 with the 12th night, a celebration concluding the twelve days of Christmas, lasting all the way up until Fat Tuesday with many other events in between.

A well-known Soulard celebration is the family-oriented “Krewe of Barkus” Beggin’ Strips pet parade which takes place on the second Sunday before Mardi Gras. Pets are put in costume and walked in a parade and following the parade is wiener dog races.

The Saturday before the day dedicated to the dogs, is the Missouri Lottery Run For Your Beads 5K accompanied by the Southern Comfort Taste of Soulard.

However it isn’t until the weekend preceding Mardi Gras when the real celebration begins. Today, Feb. 28, is the day of the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball. Tomorrow hosts the Bud Light sponsored grand parade, party tent and concerts.

As to be expected, March 4 holds the most extravagant of all celebrations. The Carnival is taken out of Soulard and is relocated into the heart of downtown St. Louis for a T-Mobile Fat Tuesday Parade on Washington Avenue. This free parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Washington and Broadway where beads, doubloons, and Tony Chachere mixes and seasonings are thrown.

Not only is Mardi Gras a great way to celebrate Lent arriving with family and friends but this Carnival brings in a substantial amount of revenue for the St. Louis area. It is estimated that Soulard Mardi Gras generates $23 million in total economic activity for the region.

To think, a man trying to escape his winter blues by throwing on some beads and boas with friends started what would become the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.

For more information about the Mardi Gras festivities, visit: http://www.mardigrasinc.com