February usually brings the color red to most minds including mine. Most years I miss Mardi Gras because it comes earlier than I expect. Not this year! Mardi Gras is February 9, 2016 (Feb 28th 2017), and I am ready. I also did some research, and found out that the Mardi Gras season is not just one day, but several weeks of carnival beginning on Twelfth Night, January 6th, and continuing to Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. If Easter is in April, this could last weeks!
I also found that although most of us associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, the oldest Mardi Gras celebration and the longest running annual celebrations are in Mobile, Alabama. I figure that even though I don’t observe Lent, it is still a great reason to have a pretty table and a nice meal.
So, out comes a green tablecloth, my gold chargers, and a few other items to create a Mardi Gras table.
The salad plates with the pears are perfect, a thrift store find from our Wilmington trip last summer.
Unfortunately, I only have three, so I used two of them and two cherry motif plates. Both fruit plates have the same checkerboard rims as they are part of the same set.
The centerpiece has a gold crown that I got a couple of years ago. I have some plastic coins in green and purple that actually came from New Orleans, along with the bead necklaces.
I rummaged through my vintage evening bag collection for three that were mainly gold or white. Then, I placed the coins and the beads as though they were spilling out of the purses. This one is all beaded with a gold clasp and chain.
This one is all shiny gold. I wedged a purple coin in it vertically to hold it open.
The third one is gold with rhinestones, and has the diamond motif popular for Mardi Gras.
In a glass bowl, I put some glittery apples in gold and purple. I propped the crown on it for an interesting angle.
I also have a pair of 1950s vintage purple gloves. I thought they went well too, like part of a costume. One went on the side on a candlestick with a purple candle.
The other is draped over the gold crown.
The only difficulty I have is with the food. Traditionally, French Cajun food is served, but I do not do celery (for reasons I won’t get into here). So, I am going with two seafood dishes that are appropriate for a Gulf coast celebration. First will be a Shrimp and Avocado Remoulade (scroll down past the tablescape on the link) followed by my Pan Seared Tilapia with Spinach. Both recipes I have posted about in the past, just click on the links to see them.
Are you doing anything special for Mardi Gras?
Plus see what’s on today’s Flash Sale at Fat Quarter Shop.
From My Carolina Home 
Oh Carole, how sweeeet. I will be over for some cake! 😀
I love little purses and have quite a few myself. All of them obtained as gifts from various aunties and my mother in law.
I hope you are enjoying this rainy day. I am trying to get some things done around here.
Your table setting is beautiful and so inviting
Good Morning Carole! I absolutely adore your table setting!!! Everything about it is perfect; I would love to borrow your creative brain for a short time and create settings like this. It has got to be so fun to rummage through your collections of items and start choosing themes, colors and then items. I do not know anything about Madi Gras except what you just revealed to me. I did find it interesting that it has existed that long and lasts for that length of time also. Thank you so much for sharing all of your spectacular treasures with us today; I know that they cheered me right up and made me happy. Have a fantastic creative day!
So beautiful Carole. Your creativity astounds me. I love the colors… I can see the floats in my mind’s eye!!!!!
Interesting to see customs from other countries. I was born and raised in Austria, where the period kicking off on 1 January until Shrove Tuesday is the carnival season. During this time you dress in evening dresses and attend balls – with the Vienna Opera Ball topping them all http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/Content.Node/home/opernball/Allgemein.en.php There are also costume balls/parties for adults as well as kids.
In the kitchen we used to make “Faschingkrapfen” – that’s the round donuts with jam in the centre. We only had donuts during the carnival season, so they were very special.
Then I emigrated to Australia, where there is no carnival season and the only Mardi Gras is the gay and lesbian one in autumn. But Shrove Tuesday is pancake day, a tradition I was very happy to take up. So next Tuesday, I’ll be making a stack of pancakes, but there won’t be any decoration around the house.
Enjoy your Mardi Gras!
Sounds like a fun celebration, with your beautifully dressed table. We will be celebrating a granddaughter’s second birthday, complete with her preschool classmates, a bouncy house, cake and the rocking horses we have gotten for her. Susan in Dublin
Love it! The crown in the centre feels very fitting.
Fun Carole! I love the sparkly purses with the coins spilling out! We’re on the gulf coast right now where Mardi Gras is in full swing! Schools are even closed next week for the festivities!
Jenna
What a fun, festive Mardi Gras table, Carole! Thank you for sharing @Vintage Charm! Blessings, Cecilia
I love this tablescape. So fun and festive! Thanks for sharing at My Flagstaff Home.
Jennifer