Super Tuesday and Mardi Gras - Together Again

Two of the more interesting days of February have once again converged their encitement to the same calendar slot.

Super Tuesday and Mardi Gras:

What's so great about them? Funny I should ask -

Super Tuesday is the nickname given to the primary voting day when the most states (24 this year) cast concurrent ballots for their state primary elections.

I'm more interested in the Democratic race as it's closer - so I checked out some results online. Of course, when I'm watching live - C-SPAN is the only place for me ; )

Why so many on the same day? Wow - I'm full of poignant questions today: Per Wikipedia -

As of February 2007, eight states were scheduled to hold primary or caucus elections on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico Democrats, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia Republicans‡.[3][8] However to increase their importance in the candidate selection process, several states moved up their contests, which some pundits criticized as being "pure self-interest."[1]
The following states have changed their elections to February 5: Alaska,[9] Arizona,[10][11] California,[8] Colorado,[10] Connecticut,[12] Georgia,[9] Idaho Democrats,[13] Illinois,[14] Kansas Democrats†,[15] Massachusetts,[16] Minnesota,[17] Montana Republicans§,[18] New Jersey,[19] New York,[20] and Tennessee.[21]
In an attempt to keep states from moving their primary or caucus elections even earlier, the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee have established penalties for states holding elections earlier than 5 February 2008.[4] As a result, the Democratic National Committee has stripped the states of Michigan and Florida of all convention delegates.[22] The Republican National Committee has reduced by half the number of convention delegates from five states: Wyoming, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, and Michigan.

What could possibly make this day more fun? Beads and Booze of course. I'm talking http://www.mardigras.com/New Orleans style Mardi Gras:

So where's the history behind it? Becky Retz of the Times Picayune drops some knowledge:

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the final day of Carnival, which begins on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6. Also known as Kings' Day or Twelfth Night, Jan. 6 celebrates the arrival of the three kings at Jesus' birthplace, thus ending the Christmas season. And in New Orleans, simultaneously starting Carnival. This festival of fun finds its roots in various pagan celebrations of spring, dating back 5,000 years.

Pope makes it official

But it was Pope Gregory XIII who made it a Christian holiday when, in 1582, he put it on his Gregorian calendar (the 12-month one we still use today). He placed Mardi Gras on the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. That way, all the debauchery would be finished when it came time to fast and pray. Much of the first part of the Carnival season is invitation-only coronation balls and supper dances hosted by private clubs known as krewes. The public portion comes to life a couple of weeks before Mardi Gras when the krewes hit the streets, staging more than 70 parades in metropolitan New Orleans. Mardi Gras arrived in North America with the LeMoyne brothers, Iberville and Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiana.

Well, time now for some much needed piety.