Happy Fat Tuesday! As the festivities begin let’s raise a glass to one of the most colorful cities I have ever experienced- New Orleans. While we're at it let's look at the trio of colors seen everywhere and the Mardi Gras colors meaning.

To find out how these colors were chosen and why I went directly to the source Mardi Gras New Orleans.

Official Mardi Gras Colors Meaning

Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the Mardi Gras colors in 1872 to honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff, whose house colors were purple, green and gold.

The 1892 Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" affirmed the Mardi Gras colors meaning. Purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

I also learned another fun fact about these colors.

Mardi Gras colors influenced the choice of school colors for archrivals Louisiana State University and Tulane University. When LSU was deciding on its colors, the shops in New Orleans had stocked up on purple, green, and gold material for the Mardi Gras season. LSU decided upon purple and gold, and bought much of it. Tulane bought much of the only remaining color--green! (Their colors are blue and green.)

Remember to wear of purple, green and gold during Mardi Gras whenever you're not in costume and enjoy being surrounded by the Mardi Gras colors meaning - justice, faith, and power!

if you aren't able to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras you can do what my sister does. She celebrates Fat Tuesday from the comfort of her living room by drinking a king-size glass of her favorite cocktail- a Pimm’s Cup and imaging she is back at the Napoleon House Cafe partaking in some king crabs and king cake.