Happy Mardi Gras!

[Raijinn]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">We would like to send a special shout out during Mardi Gras to our resurgent friends in the gulf coast and </SPAN><xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" ><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">New Orleans</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> areas. The way that they have rebounded this past year shows what the human spirit can accomplish!<xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" ></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><STRONG>The History of Mardi Gras</STRONG></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Mardi Gras came to </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">New Orleans</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> through its French heritage in 1699. Early explorers celebrated this French Holiday on the banks of the </SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Mississippi River</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">. Throughout the years, Orleanians have added to the celebration by establishing krewes (organizations) which host parades and balls. Carnival quickly became an exciting holiday for both children and adults. </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and of course is celebrated on that day of the week. The date can fall between February 3 and March 9 depending on the Lunar calendar, used by the Catholic Church to determine the date of <A href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm" target=_top>Easter</A>. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before <A href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm" target=_top>Easter Sunday</A>. </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following: </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Purple represents justice </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">green stands for faith </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">gold stands for power</SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6 and continues until Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. On the Christian calendar, the twelfth day after <A href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm" target=_top>Christmas</A> is known as "Epiphany", "Twelfth Night", or "Kings Day." It is the day the <A href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm" target=_top>gift</A>-bearing Magi visited the baby Jesus, and is celebrated with its own unique rituals. </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Information from: <A href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm" target=_blank>http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm</A> </SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>