We hope you have all enjoyed carnival season, and will through its culmination with tomorrow’s Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras can happen any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9. This is because it is tied to Easter, which in the canonical calendar is celebrated the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. In between these two celebrations is the season of Lent, of repentance, atonement, and fasting.

Some claim Mardi Gras – and Carnival season – descends from such pagan traditions as Saturnalia and Lupercalia (this last was a Roman festival celebrated on February 15), and incorporated, as many pagan holidays were, into the Christian religion and calendar. The word “carnival” does derive from the Medieval Latin carnelevamen, roughly translating to “doing without flesh,” as in those days Lenten fasting meant no eating of warm-blooded animal protein for the duration of the season.

It is certain, though, that in 1582, under Pope Gregory VIII, Mardi Gras was established as part of the canonical calendar, and that it has been celebrated in New Orleans, in one form or another, since at least the 1730s.

Of course, this is a special time for us in New Orleans. We take our kids to the parades to watch their eyes get bigger as the floats go by, collect throws, attend historic balls.

We feast, we make merry.

We also put things off, sometimes. And one of the things we may be putting off is thinking about our income taxes.

So, just a gentle reminder – after Ash Wednesday, please get us your personal and business tax information as soon as you can, so we can get to work for you.

How does your family celebrate this very, very New Orleans holiday?

Click here to email me directly – I’d love to know your traditions.

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric