For anyone who has studied the progression of religion in Europe through the ages, it is known that The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were not always the alpha and omega. Ancient Europe, where pagan Romans thrived as a powerful empire for centuries, threw a festival mid winter known as Lupercalia, which honored the Roman god of fertility and agriculture, Lupercus. This festival celebrated feasting, drinking and other "pleasures of the flesh." In fact the word nearly synonymous with Mardi Gras, Carnival, literally means "farewell to the flesh."
When Christianity (mainly Catholicism) began to become the new religion in Europe, church leaders needed a way to ease the pagans into converting to Christianity. The problem was they had these deep seated traditions in sinful festivals, so the church leaders devised a way to ease the transition for pagans. They allowed them to keep their festivities but infused the season of merriment with religious relevance. So now January 6 (the Epiphany) became the day the festivities begin and Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is the day when a person should be purged of all of their sinfulness for a while and be ready to enter the Lenten season. Eventually the Christians and Pagans merged their holidays and what is now known as the Carnival Season which culminates in Mardi Gras and kicks off lent is a vaguely religious holiday celebrated worldwide, although there is no denying Pagan roots.
When European settlers began to move to the New World, they brought their festivities with them. Over time New Orleans has added its own flavor to Mardi Gras, and Carnival season in New Orleans is now famous for its many unique traditions world wide.
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