Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Around the world, Mardi Gras is also called “carnival,” meaning “farewell to the flesh” in French. It kicks off in mid January. In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras celebration fills the city with costumes, parades and feasting in preparation for the solemnity and fasting of Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Krewes, Mardi Gras parade troupes, spend months making masks and costumes in preparation for the festival. Party-goers, looking to dress up for Mardi Gras? Here are free printable Mardi Gras masks to accent any ensemble. Teachers, homeschool families and parents, why not teach kids about the holiday by having kids make these mask crafts?
* Printable Picnic has 10 Mardi Gras masks. Print in assorted colors and sizes. These half-face mask styles include: Harlequin, opal crown, tinsel and feathered. Set your printer to “grayscale” or “black and white” so you can color them as you like.
* Color Book Masks has about 70 free printable Mardi Gras masks in full and half-face styles. Themes include animals, insects, butterflies, clown, Fleur-de-lis, Indians, royalty, jester, minstrel, medieval, Commedia del Arte (Harlequin, Columbine, Pieirrot, Pierette, Punchinello, Pulcinella, Scaramouche, Pantalone, Arlecchino), Asian, African, stained glass, Polynesian and more. Print in color or black and white to color yourself. Remember, Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green.
* Activity Village has several animal masks to print, cut and paste. Animals include: frog, snake, bunny, dragon, tiger, mouse, rooster, pig, ox, monkey, goat and dog. These match the animals of the Chinese zodiac are would work for Chinese New Year celebrations. There are also several pages of more traditional Mardi Gras masks.
* Woman’s Day magazine has 15 free printable masks for Mardi Gras or Halloween. Styles include: vampire, spider, sci-fi creature, robot, rabbit, puppy, pirate, panda, mouse, jack-o’-lantern, goblin, Frankenstein monster, flower child, floral, fantasy, clown, cat and butterfly.
The best way to learn about a culture is to explore its festivals and traditions. Why not “visit” a New Orleans’ Mardi Gras by hosting your own costume party at home or in the classroom?
