Normally I hate packing, but packing for Mardi Gras can actually be fun, because you’re basically just preparing to party for several days in a row!

As I’m getting ready for my fourth trip to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, I thought I’d share some packing tips that might come in handy for the Carnival newbie:

Wear Mardi Gras Colors

You may have noticed that Mardi Gras celebrations are traditionally defined by three different colors – gold, green, and purple. But did you know that each color has meaning? Gold stands for power, green represents faith, and purple means justice.

I usually like to coordinate at least some of my wardrobe to incorporate these colors. It’s definitely not a necessity – you’ll see people from all walks of life wearing all different types of clothing (we’ll get into costumes later) and sometimes no clothing at all – but if you have some clothes that match these colors, it’s a fun way to accessorize and fit right in with the Mardi Gras theme.

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