Amazing celebration of Mardi Gras. Streets of New Orleans were filled with colors, laughter, and festive spirit.

The final day of the Carnival happened this year on 13 February. Mardi Gras is the French expression for 'Fat Tuesday.' It is also celebrated in the United States under the name of 'Pancake Tuesday' with the epicenter in Louisiana.

Have you eaten your portion of sweets this year? Mardi Gras is the perfect day for catching up with the amount of calories and sugar. Whether you eat donuts or pancakes, you should not leave food until you are full and sugar-filled. Are you a chocolate lover? Go for it. Do you prefer vanilla ice cream? It is your time of the year to make use of your preferences. Eat while you can, or you will regret it.

Mardi Gras is obviously not only about food. And one could say it is mostly not about food. This festival is celebrated mostly in the original French territories of the United States, namely Louisiana. Every year, the city of New Orleans welcomes parades and street parties in the French Quarter of the city. Below, you are able to see some wonderful pictures of the street celebrations.

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club was founded in 1916 by black labourers and is a very important part of New Orlean's Mardi Gras tradition. The club has a tradition of choosing a king of every years's celebration in the democratic voting. This time the king of the parade was Melvin Labat. The club also actively takes part in New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Rex Parade was founded even earlier than the Zulu Club Parade. It was created one hundred fifty-two years ago, in 1872, and was originally made to celebrate the visit of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia to New Orleans. Fast, it was transformed to attract tourism to the Civil War devastated New Orleans.

This Parade masters use traditional techniques of making decorations, and they make them almost entirely by hand. It is really a threat to witness this masterful craft and truly a highlight point on a map of New Orleans. Mardi Gras is a vital part of local consciousness. Be sure to make a visit someday and tick it off your bucket list.