60 Mardi Gras Trivia Questions and Answers to Fuel Your Brain This Fat Tuesday

Jessica Sager
·6 min read
1

Mardi Gras is a blast, but its origins and even its current celebrations are wrapped in a bit of mystery—masks, anyone? While some of the traditions are super famous, like king cake, beads, jazz and parades in New Orleans, there's a lot about Mardi Gras you may not know! These Mardi Gras trivia questions and answers will impress your pals and enlighten you on some of the fun and history behind Fat Tuesday.

Related: Let Them Eat (King) Cake! Everything To Know About Mardi Gras, Plus When Fat Tuesday 2024 Takes Place

Mardi Gras Trivia Questions and Answers

Question: What is the day before Mardi Gras called?
Answer: Lundi Gras

Question: What day comes after Mardi Gras?
Answer: Ash Wednesday

Question: Where was the first known carnival celebration?
Answer: Nice, France

Question: What famous father and son were each crowned King Bacchus at New Orleans Mardi Gras?
Answer: Alan Thicke and Robin Thicke

Question: When was the earliest known carnival celebration?
Answer: 1294

Question: What is the signature Mardi Gras dessert?
Answer: King cake

Question: What is traditionally hidden inside a king cake?
Answer: A plastic baby

Related: Mardi Gras Sayings and Quotes Perfect for Your Fat Tuesday Instagram Captions

Question: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, when was the most recent cancellation of New Orleans' Mardi Gras parades?
Answer: 1945

Question: A man dressed as whom was credited with popularizing throwing beads during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Santa Claus

Question: What are the groups that organize New Orleans Mardi Gras parades called?
Answer: Krewes

Question: What was the first all-female New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe?
Answer: The Krewe of Venus

Question: Bacchus is the Roman god of what?
Answer: Wine

Question: What states recognize Fat Tuesday as a holiday?
Answer: Louisiana, Florida and Alabama

Question: What is Mardi Gras called in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada?
Answer: Shrove Tuesday

Question: What is the most popular food for Shrove Tuesday?
Answer: Pancakes

Related: Savory King Cakes Are the Latest Mardi Gras Trend Taking Over the Internet

Question: How many king cakes are sold during an average carnival season?
Answer: 500,000

Question: What time does New Orleans law require masks to be removed on Mardi Gras?
Answer: 6 p.m.

Question: How many pounds of beads are thrown during an average New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration?
Answer: 25 million

Question: What is the most popular Mardi Gras saying?
Answer: "Laissez les bon temps rouler."

Question: What song is the anthem of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
Answer: "If I Cease to Love"

Question: What does purple signify during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Justice

Question: What does green signify during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Faith

Question: What does gold signify during Mardi Gras?
Answer: Power

Question: What foreign ruler was honored as the King of Carnival?
Answer: Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff

Question: When was the first known New Orleans Mardi Gras parade?
Answer: 1837

Question: When were floats first introduced to New Orleans Mardi Gras parades?
Answer: 1857

Question: On average, how many people typically visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras every year?
Answer: 1.4 million

Question: What is the oldest African American krewe in New Orleans?
Answer: The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club (Krewe of Zulu)

Question: How many times have Mardi Gras parades been canceled in New Orleans?
Answer: 13

Question: New Orleans canceled Mardi Gras parades in the 1870s due to the outbreak of what disease?
Answer: Yellow fever

Related: 14 Mardi Gras Recipes That Will Make You Feel Like You’re in NOLA Even if You’re at Home

Question: Mardi Gras beads used to be made of what material?
Answer: Glass

Question: What is the traditional phrase used to request beads during Mardi Gras?
Answer: “Throw me something, mister!”

Question: When did Louisiana declare Fat Tuesday a state holiday?
Answer: 1875

Question: The Krewe of Zulu tosses what coveted Mardi Gras trinket during their New Orleans parade each year?
Answer: A golden coconut

Question: Who is credited with coming up with the official Mardi Gras colors and anthem?
Answer: The Krewe of Rex

Question: What day kicks off carnival celebrations each year?
Answer: The Epiphany (Three Kings Day)

Question: "Carnival" comes from the Latin phrase "carne vale," which means what?
Answer: "Farewell to meat"

Question: Where was the first Mardi Gras parade in the United States?
Answer: Mobile, Alabama

Question: Which on-screen Batman was King Bacchus?
Answer: Michael Keaton

Question: Which Italian city is famous for its carnival celebrations?
Answer: Venice

Question: Which all-female krewe is named after the daughters of Zeus?
Answer: The Krewe of Muses

Question: "If I Cease to Love" was featured in what musical?
Answer: Bluebeard

Question: Which krewe has a Star Wars theme?
Answer: The Krewe of Chewbacchus

Question: Which krewe's parade was the first to roll in New Orleans' first Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina?
Answer: Krewe du Vieux

Question: Which krewe opted to stop their parades rather than racially integrate their ranks?
Answer: The Kreme of Comus

Related: Andouille and Blackened Chicken Jambalaya Skillet is the Mardi Gras Recipe We Can’t Get Enough Of

Question: In which year did Mardi Gras move its New Orleans celebration dates to not interfere with the Super Bowl?
Answer: 2013

Question: Mardi Gras may have links to what Roman celebrations?
Answer: Lupercalia and Saturnalia

Question: King cake is typically made with what sort of dough?
Answer: Brioche

Question: Special coins thrown during Mardi Gras parades are called what?
Answer: Doubloons

Question: The average float rider in New Orleans spends how much for their costume, beads and other souvenirs for Mardi Gras?
Answer: $500

Question: The success of a Mardi Gras parade is measured in what?
Answer: Trash

Question: Early Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, featured what kind of animal?
Answer: Bull

Question: Ivrea, Italy, marks Mardi Gras celebrations with a battle of which famous fruit?
Answer: Oranges

Question: Germany starts their carnival season at what time on what day?
Answer: Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m.

Question: The Krewe of Tucks famously rides in a float shaped like what?
Answer: A toilet bowl

Question: Germany traditionally marks which day before post-carnival fasting as "Greasy?"
Answer: Thursday

Question: If you get the baby in your slice of king cake at a Mardi Gras party, you traditionally have to what?
Answer: Buy next year's cake or host next year's party

Question: Which NFL quarterback served as King Bacchus in New Orleans Mardi Gras?
Answer: Drew Brees

Question: When was Mardi Gras first declared a holiday in general?
Answer: 1582

Question: After Mardi Gras parades were canceled for 2021 in New Orleans, what did krewes decorate instead of floats?
Answer: Houses

Want more great trivia? Check out 101 Trivia Questions for Kids, Movie Trivia and The Office Trivia.