100+ Mardi Gras Trivia Questions & Answers

Question: Where was Mardi Gras first celebrated in the United States?

Answer: Mobile, Alabama

Question: In what year did Mobile, Alabama first celebrate Mardi Gras?

Answer: 1703

Question: Which French explorers founded Mobile, Alabama, the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States?

Answer: Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville

Question: What does "Mardi Gras" translate to in English?

Answer: Fat Tuesday

Question: Which organization in New Orleans first proclaimed the official Mardi Gras colors?

Answer: The Rex organization

Question: What year did the Rex organization declare purple, green, and gold as official Mardi Gras colors?

Answer: 1872

Question: What do the Mardi Gras colors purple, green, and gold represent?

Answer: Justice, faith, and power respectively

Question: Which city claims to host the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States?

Answer: St Louis, Missouri

Question: In what year was Mardi Gras recognized by UNESCO in Binche, Belgium?

Answer: 2003

Question: What biblical story inspired the name "King Cake" during Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: The story of the Three Wise Men

Question: When was the first organized Mardi Gras parade recorded in New Orleans?

Answer: 1833

Question: Which krewe is considered the oldest parading mystic society in New Orleans Mardi Gras parades?

Answer: The Order of Myths

Question: What year did the first "super krewe" parades begin in New Orleans?

Answer: 1960s/70's

Question: Which krewe's parade began in New Orleans in 1833?

Answer: The Rex organization

Question: What was the first formal krewe formed in New Orleans Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: The Mistick Krewe of Comus in 1853

Question: Which European countries have carnival celebrations similar to Mardi Gras?

Answer: Germany, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden

Question: What is the Czech Republic's name for Mardi Gras?

Answer: Masopust

Question: Which German terms are used for Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: Karneval, Fasching, Fastnacht

Question: When did the Knights of Revelry parade in Mobile, Alabama during Mardi Gras?

Answer: 2010 Mardi Gras season

Question: What year did Galveston, Texas hold its first recorded Mardi Gras celebration?

Answer: 1867

Question: Which krewes in Galveston started grand-scale Mardi Gras celebrations in 1871?

Answer: Knights of Momus and Knights of Myth

Question: What tradition do women participate in during Altweiberfastnacht in Germany's carnival celebrations?

Answer: Wearing men's clothing and assuming their roles

Question: When did St Louis, Missouri begin its Mardi Gras festivities?

Answer: 1980s

Question: Which krewe replaced the Knights of Momus in New Orleans Mardi Gras?

Answer: Knights of Chaos

Question: What phrase, meaning "Let the good times roll," is associated with Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans?

Answer: Laissez les bons temps rouler

Question: What are the most popular colors used in Mardi Gras costumes?

Answer: Purple, green, and gold

Question: What do Mardi Gras Indians' suits typically feature?

Answer: Thousands of beads and elaborate hand-sewn designs

Question: What must float riders wear by law during Mardi Gras parades?

Answer: Masks or face paint

Question: What phrase do revelers shout to catch throws from Mardi Gras parade floats?

Answer: “Throw Me Something, Mister”

Question: What are some of the most desired throws during Mardi Gras parades?

Answer: Zulu coconuts, Muses shoes, and Krewe of Iris sunglasses

Question: What is the significance of the King of Carnival in Mardi Gras?

Answer: He is chosen by the Rex Organization and represents the Carnival king

Question: What tradition involves the Mayor of New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day?

Answer: Handing over the key to the city to Rex

Question: What marks the official end of Carnival season celebrations in New Orleans?

Answer: Police officers moving through crowds on Bourbon Street at midnight

Question: What is the traditional cake served during Mardi Gras called?

Answer: King Cake

Question: What activity do children use colorful ladders for during Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans?

Answer: To hold their spot and get a clear view

Question: What must float riders in New Orleans refrain from due to city ordinance?

Answer: Commercializing Mardi Gras with corporate sponsorships

Question: What are Mardi Gras ladders used for during parade celebrations?

Answer: Holding spots for parade spectators

Question: What must participants in parades wear according to Mardi Gras tradition?

Answer: Masks or face paint

Question: What tradition involves women taking over town halls during Germany's carnival celebrations?

Answer: Altweiberfastnacht

Question: What is the purpose of the Black Fast before Lent in Mardi Gras traditions?

Answer: Abstaining from rich foods and liquids

Question: What type of meals do Christians traditionally avoid during Lent?

Answer: Rich foods such as meat, eggs, dairy products, and alcohol

Question: What is the Czech tradition of Mardi Gras called?

Answer: Masopust

Question: What is the name of the parade in Binche, Belgium, where performers throw oranges during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Carnival of Binche

Question: What must float riders in New Orleans keep secret during Mardi Gras parades?

Answer: The identity of their king or queen

Question: What type of events begin in Mobile, Alabama, in November related to Mardi Gras?

Answer: Mystic society balls and social events

Question: What do Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans often feature?

Answer: Elaborate floats and themed throws

Question: What type of costumes are common in New Orleans Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: Fairies, animals, mythical creatures, medieval costumes, clowns, and Native Americans

Question: What type of cakes are associated with Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: King Cakes

Question: What is the Italian name for Mardi Gras?

Answer: Martedì Grasso

Question: What is the Swedish name for Mardi Gras?

Answer: Fettisdagen

Question: Which US city is most synonymous with Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: New Orleans, Louisiana

Question: In which European country is the Carnival of Binche held during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Belgium

Question: Which German region calls Mardi Gras "Veilchensdienstag"?

Answer: Lower Rhine region

Question: Where is the "Battle of Oranges" held during Mardi Gras in Italy?

Answer: Ivrea, Italy

Question: Which US city hosted the "Super Gras" event in 2013?

Answer: New Orleans, Louisiana

Question: Which Swedish pastry is eaten on Fettisdagen during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Semla

Question: In which Italian cities are famous Carnivals held during Mardi Gras season?

Answer: Venice, Viareggio, and Ivrea

Question: Which US city claims to have the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States?

Answer: St Louis, Missouri

Question: Where did the first Mardi Gras parade in Galveston, Texas take place?

Answer: Downtown Galveston

Question: Which area in Louisiana celebrates with the Courir de Mardi Gras?

Answer: Acadiana

Question: In which US city did the first organized Mardi Gras parade occur?

Answer: Mobile, Alabama

Question: Which French city is known for its Mardi Gras celebrations alongside New Orleans?

Answer: Marseille

Question: What is the main neighborhood in St Louis where Mardi Gras is celebrated?

Answer: Soulard

Question: Which US state's Mardi Gras is an official state holiday?

Answer: Louisiana

Question: Where are colorful ladders lined up during Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans?

Answer: St Charles Avenue, New Orleans

Question: Which US city moved its Mardi Gras capital to New Orleans in 1723?

Answer: Biloxi was the previous capital before moving to New Orleans

Question: Which Italian tradition involves apotropaic masks during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Southern Italy, especially Sardini

Question: Where do performers known as Gilles throw oranges during Mardi Gras in Belgium?

Answer: Binche, Belgium

Question: Which US city's Mardi Gras festivities include a masked ball at Turner Hall?

Answer: Galveston, Texas

Question: In which village in the Czech Republic did door-to-door processions make the UNESCO list during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Staré Hamry

Question: Which krewe in Mobile was the first informal mystic society during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Boeuf Gras Society

Question: Where are the oldest parading krewes Rex and Proteus located during Mardi Gras?

Answer: New Orleans, Louisiana

Question: Which US city began grand-scale Mardi Gras celebrations in 1871?

Answer: Galveston, Texas

Question: In which country is Fastelavn a term related to Mardi Gras celebrations?

Answer: Germany

Question: Which US city hosted the Knights of Revelry parade in 2010 during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Mobile, Alabama

Question: What year is Mardi Gras celebrated on March 4th?

Answer: 2025

Question: What is the Swedish name for the traditional semla eaten on Fettisdagen during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Fettisdagen Semla

Question: What unique item do Zulu krewes toss that is considered a real prize during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Coconuts

Question: What must all expenses for Mardi Gras parade floats be covered by?

Answer: Krewes and float riders

Question: What is the French expression associated with Mardi Gras meaning "Let the good times roll"?

Answer: Laissez les bons temps rouler

Question: What year did Rex start using medallions instead of trinkets during Mardi Gras?

Answer: 1884

Question: What are "doubloons" in Mardi Gras tradition?

Answer: Aluminum medallions anodized in different colors

Question: What is the traditional Mardi Gras dessert inspired by the Three Wise Men?

Answer: King Cake

Question: What phrase is used to describe the key to the city handed to Rex during Mardi Gras?

Answer: The Mayor of New Orleans hands over the key to Rex

Question: What are the main throws during the Zulu parade in Mardi Gras?

Answer: Coconuts

Question: What type of society formed the first "old-line" krewe in New Orleans Mardi Gras?

Answer: Protestant Anglo-Americans

Question: What is the purpose of Mardi Gras Bead Trees in New Orleans?

Answer: Beads "grow" on trees during Carnival season

Question: Which Krewe in New Orleans is known for throwing doubloons?

Answer: Rex

Question: What must float riders in New Orleans do regarding their masks during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Wear masks or face paint by law

Question: What is the name of the first organized parade in New Orleans Mardi Gras?

Answer: The Rex parade

Question: What is a hallmark of Shrovetide during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Last round of merrymaking before Lent

Question: What are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras?

Answer: Purple, green, and gold

Question: What type of races are associated with using up surplus eggs, milk, and butter before Lent during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Pancake races

Question: What is the significance of Mardi Gras being called "Fat Tuesday"?

Answer: Last night of consuming rich, fatty foods before Lent

Question: Which krewes in New Orleans are known for the "super krewes" parades?

Answer: Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, and Rex

Question: What must participants in the Binche Carnival wear during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Elaborate costumes in red, black, and yellow

Question: What are the magic words used to catch throws at Mardi Gras parades?

Answer: “Throw Me Something, Mister”

Question: What is the English term for "Martedì Grasso" in Italy?

Answer: Fat Tuesday

Question: Which krewe's parade in New Orleans includes a concert at Caesars Superdome during Mardi Gras?

Answer: Endymion

Question: What year did the first mystic society krewe form in Mobile, Alabama during Mardi Gras?

Answer: 1711 with the Boeuf Gras Society