We are less than a week a way from everyone’s favorite four day weekend. Carnival season has arrived and the streets are slowly turning green, gold, and purple. For long time South Louisiana residents, surviving the Mardi Gras marathon has become an art form. It takes talent, experience, and street smarts. Here are a few ways to tell that you’ve got what it takes to call yourself a Mardi Gras veteran.

 

1. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever accidentally swallowed a baby.

 

2. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever referred to the trek from Down Town to the Cajun Field fair as “walking distance”.

 

3. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever had to confess to a thirsty friend that the clear liquid in your water bottle is not actually water.

 

4. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever purchased a sausage po-boy from the back of a pickup truck.

 

5. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you have a working knowledge of all open container laws, penalties, and loopholes in Lafayette Parish.

 

6. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever left your car in the same place for three days so that you don’t lose your parking spot.

 

7. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you know what night Wayne Toups is playing at the fair without having to check any websites or newspapers.

 

8. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever refused phone calls from taller friends out of fear that they will catch more beads than you.

 

9. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you can spot the difference between a cheap bead and a keeper in mid flight.

 

10. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever purchased a sword from a street vendor.

 

11. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever apologized to a group of strangers for you overly aggressive bead catching.

 

12. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever made a batch of Bloody Marys the night before for the morning after.

 

13. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever joined in on a line dance on Johnston Street.

 

14. You know you’re a Mardi Gras veteran if you’ve ever gotten into a heated argument over King Cake.

 

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That was our list of 15, but can you think of any others? Are you ready for Mardi Gras? Click the “Like” button at the bottom to share the Mardi Gras spirit with your friends, and tell us what you think makes you a Mardi Gras veteran in the comment section.

 

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