Thousands Decorate Their Homes for Mardi Gras during Pandemic
2021-01-31
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1Each year, the city of New Orleans in the State of Louisiana holds a celebration known as Mardi Gras.
2This year, traditional activities have been canceled because of the coronavirus health crisis.
3But, many houses around the city are now preparing for the special week.
4The Mardi Gras celebration often involves a parade with people dressing in colorful clothes and special vehicles covered in decorations called floats.
5What is known as Carnival season begins in early January and ends in February.
6Mardi Gras is one of several Carnival celebrations in traditionally Roman Catholic parts of the world.
7The celebrations are held the day before Catholics begin the religious observance of Lent.
8Even before the city announced its plans, some groups decided they would not be parading for the 2021 Mardi Gras.
9Safer choices include handing out gifts from a streetcar and organizing outdoor art and virtual parades.
10The "house float" movement started in November after a government official said the parade would be canceled.
11The term "house float" describes homes decorated as if they were Mardi Gras floats.
12Megan Joy Boudreaux lives in New Orleans.
13She started the Krewe of House Floats group.
14She wrote on Twitter: "We're doing this. Turn your house into a float and throw all the beads from your attic at your neighbors walking by."
15Her Tweet was meant as a joke.
16But, the more she thought about it, the more she realized she liked the idea.
17When she created the Krewe of House Floats, she thought only a few friends and family would join.
18But there are now 39 smaller groups to help plan for different areas in the city.
19"I didn't think I was starting a Mardi Gras krewe. Here I am," Boudreaux said.
20"I've got myself a second full-time job."
21January 6 was the official first day of Carnival season and the group already has more than 9,000 members.
22Three thousand of the members are from other states or countries.
23There is even an online map of people who are decorating their houses.
24Charlotte "Charlie" Jallans-Daly is one of two mapmakers for the project.
25She said people as far away as England and Australia are showing their houses online.
26This year, the Mardi Gras celebration will be on February 16.
27Houses are to be decorated at least two weeks before.
28The hope is that people will spread out widely and see the homes during different times.
29The Facebook group includes people teaching each other skills and discussions about advertisements and neighborhood themes.
30Artists are also giving lessons over the internet.
31Some neighborhoods want to show an idea behind their decorations.
32Katie Bankens wanted the theme for her neighborhood to be based on Shark Week, a week of television programs about sharks.
33Boudreaux, of the Krewe of House Floats, suggested people help employ and buy from out-of-work Carnival artists and suppliers.
34They were affected by the parade cancellation.
35Many more artists have gotten involved.
36Dominic "Dom" Graves is an artist who has organized more than 20 five-person classes in professional paper-mache methods.
37Each person pays $100 to learn how to create art for the celebration out of paper, water and flour.
38Devin DeWulf is an artist from New Orleans.
39He started two aid groups to help the community during the health crisis.
40He runs another social group: the Krewe of Red Beans.
41Caroline Thomas is an expert float designer and is working with DeWulf.
42They created the "Hire a Mardi Gras Artist" program.
43They are collecting money for groups of artists to help decorate 11 houses and seven businesses.
44One of the houses to be decorated is rented by Sisters Mary Ann Specha and Julie Walsh.
45They are Catholic religious workers who operate a shelter for homeless women with children.
46They received permission for the project from their organization in Dubuque, Iowa.
47DeWulf said decorations made by the artists could be sold to raise more money.
48"We've put about 40 people to work, which is nice," DeWulf said.
49I'm Armen Kassabian.
1Each year, the city of New Orleans in the State of Louisiana holds a celebration known as Mardi Gras. This year, traditional activities have been canceled because of the coronavirus health crisis. But, many houses around the city are now preparing for the special week. 2The Mardi Gras celebration often involves a parade with people dressing in colorful clothes and special vehicles covered in decorations called floats. What is known as Carnival season begins in early January and ends in February. 3Mardi Gras is one of several Carnival celebrations in traditionally Roman Catholic parts of the world. The celebrations are held the day before Catholics begin the religious observance of Lent. 4The house float movement 5Even before the city announced its plans, some groups decided they would not be parading for the 2021 Mardi Gras. Safer choices include handing out gifts from a streetcar and organizing outdoor art and virtual parades. 6The "house float" movement started in November after a government official said the parade would be canceled. The term "house float" describes homes decorated as if they were Mardi Gras floats. 7Megan Joy Boudreaux lives in New Orleans. She started the Krewe of House Floats group. She wrote on Twitter: "We're doing this. Turn your house into a float and throw all the beads from your attic at your neighbors walking by." 8Her Tweet was meant as a joke. But, the more she thought about it, the more she realized she liked the idea. When she created the Krewe of House Floats, she thought only a few friends and family would join. But there are now 39 smaller groups to help plan for different areas in the city. 9"I didn't think I was starting a Mardi Gras krewe. Here I am," Boudreaux said. "I've got myself a second full-time job." 10January 6 was the official first day of Carnival season and the group already has more than 9,000 members. Three thousand of the members are from other states or countries. There is even an online map of people who are decorating their houses. Charlotte "Charlie" Jallans-Daly is one of two mapmakers for the project. She said people as far away as England and Australia are showing their houses online. 11This year, the Mardi Gras celebration will be on February 16. Houses are to be decorated at least two weeks before. The hope is that people will spread out widely and see the homes during different times. 12The Facebook group includes people teaching each other skills and discussions about advertisements and neighborhood themes. Artists are also giving lessons over the internet. 13Some neighborhoods want to show an idea behind their decorations. Katie Bankens wanted the theme for her neighborhood to be based on Shark Week, a week of television programs about sharks. 14Artists decorate homes and businesses 15Boudreaux, of the Krewe of House Floats, suggested people help employ and buy from out-of-work Carnival artists and suppliers. They were affected by the parade cancellation. Many more artists have gotten involved. 16Dominic "Dom" Graves is an artist who has organized more than 20 five-person classes in professional paper-mache methods. Each person pays $100 to learn how to create art for the celebration out of paper, water and flour. 17Devin DeWulf is an artist from New Orleans. He started two aid groups to help the community during the health crisis. He runs another social group: the Krewe of Red Beans. 18Caroline Thomas is an expert float designer and is working with DeWulf. They created the "Hire a Mardi Gras Artist" program. They are collecting money for groups of artists to help decorate 11 houses and seven businesses. 19One of the houses to be decorated is rented by Sisters Mary Ann Specha and Julie Walsh. They are Catholic religious workers who operate a shelter for homeless women with children. They received permission for the project from their organization in Dubuque, Iowa. 20DeWulf said decorations made by the artists could be sold to raise more money. 21"We've put about 40 people to work, which is nice," DeWulf said. 22I'm Armen Kassabian. 23Janet McConnaughey from The Associated Press reported this story. Armen Kassabian adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 24_______________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26decorations -n. (pl.) artwork added to something to make it more interesting or attractive 27beads -n. (pl.) small completely round pieces of glass, metal or other material that are often strung together and worn or used to decorate objects 28app - n. a computer program that performs a special function 29attic - n. a room or space that is just below the roof of a building and that is often used to store things 30themes - n. the main subject that is being discussed or described 31rent -v. to pay the owner of a property for its use 32How has the pandemic changed the way an important holiday is celebrated in your country? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.