You’ll be ready for this incredible annual celebration with our Mardi Gras trivia questions and answers. This entertaining celebration, which takes place in New Orleans, is known for its lavish costumes and beads.
We’ll cover a lot of ground in our Mardi Gras trivia questions, including the celebration’s history. Discover the origins of this tradition and some of the names of the many days.
All in all, have fun with this Mardi Gras trivia.
Mardi Gras Trivia Questions and Answers
Question: What is the day before Mardi Gras called?
Answer: Lundi Gras
Question: What day comes after Mardi Gras?
Answer: Ash Wednesday
Question: Where was the first known carnival celebration?
Answer: Nice, France
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Question: What famous father and son were each crowned King Bacchus at New Orleans Mardi Gras?
Answer: Alan Thicke and Robin Thicke
Question: When was the earliest known carnival celebration?
Answer: 1294
Question: What is the signature Mardi Gras dessert?
Answer: King cake
Question: What is traditionally hidden inside a king cake?
Answer: A plastic baby
Question: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, when was the most recent cancellation of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras parades?
Answer: 1945
Question: A man dressed as whom was credited with popularizing throwing beads during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Santa Claus
Question: What are the groups that organize New Orleans Mardi Gras parades called?
Answer: Krewes
Question: What was the first all-female New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe?
Answer: The Krewe of Venus
Question: Bacchus is the Roman god of what?
Answer: Wine
Question: What states recognize Fat Tuesday as a holiday?
Answer: Louisiana, Florida and Alabama
Question: What is Mardi Gras called in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada?
Answer: Shrove Tuesday
Question: What is the most popular food for Shrove Tuesday?
Answer: Pancakes
Question: How many king cakes are sold during an average carnival season?
Answer: 500,000
Question: What time does New Orleans law require masks to be removed on Mardi Gras?
Answer: 6 p.m.
Question: How many pounds of beads are thrown during an average New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration?
Answer: 25 million
Question: What is the most popular Mardi Gras saying?
Answer: “Laissez les bon temps rouler.”
Question: What song is the anthem of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
Answer: “If I Cease to Love”
Question: What does purple signify during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Justice
Question: What does green signify during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Faith
Question: What does gold signify during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Power
Question: What foreign ruler was honored as the King of Carnival?
Answer: Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff
Question: When was the first known New Orleans Mardi Gras parade?
Answer: 1837
Question: When were floats first introduced to New Orleans Mardi Gras parades?
Answer: 1857
Question: On average, how many people typically visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras every year?
Answer: 1.4 million
Question: What is the oldest African American krewe in New Orleans?
Answer: The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club (Krewe of Zulu)
Question: How many times have Mardi Gras parades been canceled in New Orleans?
Answer: 13
Question: New Orleans canceled Mardi Gras parades in the 1870s due to the outbreak of what disease?
Answer: Yellow fever
Question: Mardi Gras beads used to be made of what material?
Answer: Glass
Question: What is the traditional phrase used to request beads during Mardi Gras?
Answer: “Throw me something, mister!”
Question: When did Louisiana declare Fat Tuesday a state holiday?
Answer: 1875
Question: The Krewe of Zulu tosses what coveted Mardi Gras trinket during their New Orleans parade each year?
Answer: A golden coconut
Question: Who is credited with coming up with the official Mardi Gras colors and anthem?
Answer: The Krewe of Rex
Question: What day kicks off carnival celebrations each year?
Answer: The Epiphany (Three Kings Day)
Question: “Carnival” comes from the Latin phrase “carne vale,” which means what?
Answer: “Farewell to meat”
Question: Where was the first Mardi Gras parade in the United States?
Answer: Mobile, Alabama
Question: Which on-screen Batman was King Bacchus?
Answer: Michael Keaton
Question: Which Italian city is famous for its carnival celebrations?
Answer: Venice
Question: Which all-female krewe is named after the daughters of Zeus?
Answer: The Krewe of Muses
Question: “If I Cease to Love” was featured in what musical?
Answer: Bluebeard
Question: Which krewe has a Star Wars theme?
Answer: The Krewe of Chewbacchus
Question: Which krewe’s parade was the first to roll in New Orleans’ first Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina?
Answer: Krewe du Vieux
Question: Which krewe opted to stop their parades rather than racially integrate their ranks?
Answer: The Kreme of Comus
Question: In which year did Mardi Gras move its New Orleans celebration dates to not interfere with the Super Bowl?
Answer: 2013
Question: Mardi Gras may have links to what Roman celebrations?
Answer: Lupercalia and Saturnalia
Question: King cake is typically made with what sort of dough?
Answer: Brioche
Question: Special coins thrown during Mardi Gras parades are called what?
Answer: Doubloons
Question: The average float rider in New Orleans spends how much for their costume, beads, and other souvenirs for Mardi Gras?
Answer: $500
Question: The success of a Mardi Gras parade is measured in what?
Answer: Trash
Question: Early Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, featured what kind of animal?
Answer: Bull
Question: Ivrea, Italy, marks Mardi Gras celebrations with a battle of which famous fruit?
Answer: Oranges
Question: Germany starts their carnival season at what time on what day?
Answer: Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m.
Question: The Krewe of Tucks famously rides in a float shaped like what?
Answer: A toilet bowl
Question: Germany traditionally marks which day before post-carnival fasting as “Greasy?”
Answer: Thursday
Question: If you get the baby in your slice of king cake at a Mardi Gras party, you traditionally have to what?
Answer: Buy next year’s cake or host next year’s party.
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More Mardi Gras Trivia Questions and Answers
Question: Which NFL quarterback served as King Bacchus in New Orleans Mardi Gras?
Answer: Drew Brees
Question: When was Mardi Gras first declared a holiday in general?
Answer: 1582
Question: After Mardi Gras parades were canceled for 2021 in New Orleans, what did krewes decorate instead of floats?
Answer: Houses
Question: What is the English translation of the words “mardi gras”?
Answer: “Mardi Gras” translates directly to “Fat Tuesday.”
What trio of colors are associated with Mardi Gras?
Answer: Purple, green, and gold. These are said to have been chosen in 1892 when the Rex Parade theme “Symbolism of Colors” gave the colors their meanings.
What does the gold color represent?
Answer: Power.
On what day does the Carnival season begin on?
Answer: Twelfth Night (January 6).
On what day does the Carnival season end?
Answer: It ends on Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras.
One of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in the U.S. takes place in which city?
Answer: New Orleans.
During Carnival season in New Orleans, what can you often find hanging on trees?
Answer: Beads.
What is significant about the day after Mardi Gras?
Answer: It is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Each New Orleans parade is organized by groups called what?
Answer: Krewes.
The most popular Mardi Gras dessert is called what?
Answer: King cake.
What does “laissez les bon temps rouler” mean?
Answer: It means “let the good times roll” in Cajun French.
What is the anthem of Mardi Gras?
Answer: “If I Cease to Love” is the official anthem, chosen by The Krewe of Rex.
Which Krewe introduced the tradition of giving out Spanish gold coins for Mardi Gras?
Answer: The Krewe of Rex.
What little item is found in a king cake, and what does it signify?
Answer: King cake has a plastic baby inside. Whoever finds the baby in their slice will have good luck, and also has to bring the king cake to next year’s celebration.
“Carnival” comes from the Latin phrase “carne vale,” which means what?
Answer: It means “farewell meat,” as meat was often a sacrifice in Lent.
The very first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade on record was held in what century: 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, or 1900s?
Answer: 1800s; it was held in 1838.
By law, it is illegal to ride on a float without wearing what item during the Mardi Gras celebrations?
Answer: A mask. The purpose of the mask was to allow different classes of people to mingle freely and let loose.
King cake is usually made circular or braided to resemble what shape?
Answer: A crown.
The two most recent Mardi Gras parade cancellations in NOLA have been due to 1) World War II in 1945 and 2) what other world event?
Answer: The coronavirus pandemic in 2021.
While thousands of tourists flock to New Orleans every year for its Mardi Gras celebrations, the original Mardi Gras began in which state?
Answer: In Alabama in 1703.
Why is the date of Mardi Gras different every year?
Answer: Because it is related to Easter, which also changes every year.
The Monday before Mardi Gras is called what?
Answer: Lundi Gras.
The king cake is believed to have originated in which country during the 12th century?
Answer: France.
Every year, the city chooses a new Rex. What is a Rex?
Answer: The King of the Carnival (or the King of Mardi Gras) for the year.
During what year did New Orleans host their annual Mardi Gras celebration as well as the Super Bowl?
Answer: 2013.
Who was given the first title of King of Mardi Gras?
Answer: Russian Grand Duke Romanoff. He was visiting New Orleans for Mardi Gras and the city wanted him to feel welcome.
Which of these is NOT another name for Mardi Gras? Pancake Day, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Beignet Tuesday?
Answer: Beignet Tuesday.
Pancake Day is another name for Mardi Gras that comes from England. Why is it named this?
Answer: It was a common tradition to use up all the eggs, milk, and butter in the kitchen prior to Ash Wednesday. These ingredients were often used to make pancakes.
During Ash Wednesday (the day after Mardi Gras), why do people keep ashes on their foreheads for the entire day?
Answer: It is a sign of mortality and penance for their sins.
Which Disney movie takes place in New Orleans?
Answer: The Princess and the Frog (2009).
In which century was the first recorded celebration of Mardi Gras in the United States?
Answer: The first recorded Mardi Gras celebration in the United States was in 1703, and it took place in Mobile, then the capitol of French Louisiana.
What famous street in the French Quarter of New Orleans is renowned for its lively nightlife, jazz music, and vibrant atmosphere?
Answer: Bourbon Street.
In New Orleans, what term is used to refer to the decorated masks worn during Mardi Gras festivities?
Answer: Mardi Gras Masks or Masquerade Masks.
What popular dessert, often associated with New Orleans, is a fried pastry topped with powdered sugar, commonly enjoyed just about any time of the day?
Answer: Beignets.
What city translates as ‘River of January’?
Answer: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
What is the iconic and massive parade ground where the main Rio Carnival samba parades take place?
Answer: Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí.
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Things You Should Know About Madi Gras
What is the name of the traditional Brazilian dance that is often performed during the Rio Carnival, characterized by intricate footwork and rhythmic hip movements?
Answer: Samba.
In Rio de Janeiro, what is the term for the informal street parties that take place in the lead-up to and during Carnival?
Answer: Blocos.
The Rio Carnival features competitions between samba schools. What are these schools called in Portuguese?
Answer: Escolas de Samba.
What is the significance of the “Cordão do Bola Preta,” one of Rio de Janeiro’s oldest Carnival street parties?
Answer: It is considered the largest and oldest street carnival band in Rio de Janeiro.
How long can Mardi Gras parades last?
A. Several hours.
What is unique about the Zulu Coconut?
A. It’s a highly coveted throw at the Zulu parade.
Can Mardi Gras occur in March?
A: Yes, depending on the Easter date.
What kind of music is commonly associated with Mardi Gras in
Which famous parade is known for its elaborate floats in New Orleans?
A: Rex Parade.
What is a popular Mardi Gras food?
A: Jambalaya.
Are Mardi Gras celebrations limited to New Orleans?
A: No, they are celebrated in various parts of the world.
What animal is often associated with Mardi Gras in Cajun Country?
A: Chicken, especially in the Courir de Mardi Gras.
What is a common Mardi Gras costume accessory?
A: Masks.
What does the color purple represent in Mardi Gras? A: Justice.
What does the color gold represent?
A: Power.
Q: What does the color green represent?
A: Faith.
Q: What is the significance of the King Cake?
A: It symbolizes the Epiphany and contains a small plastic baby, representing Baby Jesus.
Q: What happens if you find the baby in the King Cake?
A: You’re considered lucky and responsible for buying or making the next King Cake.
Q: What is a traditional drink during Mardi Gras?
A: The Hurricane cocktail.
Q: What seafood is commonly eaten during Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
A: Crawfish.
Q: What is a ‘Po’ boy’?
A: A traditional Louisiana sandwich, often eaten during Mardi Gras.
Q: What spice is often used in Mardi Gras cooking?
A: Cayenne pepper.
Q: What is the significance of gumbo during Mardi Gras?
A: It’s a traditional Creole dish that embodies the multicultural nature of New Orleans.
Q: What is a second line parade? A: A traditional New Orleans procession with dancers and musicians.
Q: Who is often considered the ambassador of New Orleans music, associated with Mardi Gras? A: Louis Armstrong.
Q: What dance is often associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans? A: The Mardi Gras shuffle.
Q: Which instrument is most associated with Mardi Gras music? A: The trumpet.
Q: Name a famous Mardi Gras song. A: “Mardi Gras Mambo.”
Q: Why do people wear masks during Mardi Gras? A: To disguise their identity and social status.
Q: What is a traditional female costume during Mardi Gras? A: A gown with a mask and beads.
Q: What is a flambeaux? A: A torchbearer who lights the way for night parades.
Q: What is a popular Mardi Gras headwear? A: Feathered headdresses.
Q: What is the purpose of costumes during Mardi Gras? A: To encourage freedom of expression and celebration.
Q: What is ‘Lundi Gras’? A: The Monday before Mardi Gras, part of the extended celebration.
Q: What is the ‘Krewe of Barkus’? A: A parade for dogs dressed in costumes.
Q: What is unique about the ‘Society of Saint Anne’ parade? A: It is known for its artistic and elaborate costumes.
Q: What is the ‘Red Beans Parade’? A: A parade where participants wear costumes made of red beans.
Q: What is the ‘Shoebox Float Contest’? A: A tradition where children create miniature Mardi Gras floats from shoeboxes.
Q: What is the legend associated with the King Cake baby? A: Finding it brings good luck and prosperity.
Q: What is considered bad luck during Mardi Gras? A: Dropping beads on the ground.
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Conclusion
Mardis gras trivia questions can be a fun way to spice up parties, and family gatherings and test each other’s knowledge of New Orleans. The whole essence is to get us to know more about Mardi Gras and all its deep cultural significance.
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