On Feb. 10, the Office of Global Studies on St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Long Island Campus partnered with the sisters of Theta Phi Alpha sorority, as well as the Diversity Union, to host a Mardi Gras carnival event in the Student Center’s Multipurpose Room during common hour. The gathering was in recognition of the festive holiday which takes place the following week, on Feb. 17.
The hallmark of the event was the food, which consisted of several dishes and desserts traditionally associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where celebrations are most well-known. These included king cake, beignets and jambalaya, which were all enjoyed by attendees of the event.
Students enjoyed food and activities while learning about the history of Mardi Gras.
In addition to the cuisine, the carnival also featured a photo wall themed for the holiday, temporary tattoos and venetian masks for students to decorate. A raffle was also held during the event, with the prizes for the three winners being small Squishmallow toys provided by Theta Phi Alpha.
The History Club also played a role in the occasion. Members of the club created a slideshow that looped throughout the hour, informing attendees of why Mardi Gras was traditionally celebrated, as well as spotlighting some of the countries in which the holiday is acknowledged and the traditions associated with it in each locale.
“I wasn’t even aware of what it actually was until I started hosting the event,” a present staff member said. She wasn’t the only one voicing such sentiments.
Mardi Gras—also known as Fat Tuesday—falls on the day before Ash Wednesday and is the last day a practicing Catholic can indulge in things such as fatty foods before Lent begins. On top of being a fun event for students and staff alike, the Mardi Gras carnival marks the beginning of a busy period for the Campus Ministries at SJNY.
