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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:95.75pt;height:95.75pt;z-index:-251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="128" height="128" style="width:1.3333in;height:1.3333in" src="cid:image002.png@01DB88EF.8F9A7FB0" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]>Mardi
Gras celebrations all over the United States have begun and will continue through Fat Tuesday. Historically, this event reflects the last night of consuming fatty foods in preparation for the Christian fasting season of Lent. More recently, Mardi Gras celebrations
have evolved to include elaborate costumes, Cajun food, festive dance and music, and lavish parades. Using
<a href="https://mel.org/az.php">MeL eResources</a> from the <a href="https://mel.org/welcome">
Michigan eLibrary</a> (MeL), learn more about the traditions that surround this celebratory season.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>History<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While New Orleans might have the most well-known, modern-day celebration, it was not the first. That distinction goes to Mobile, Alabama. Opening the
<a href="https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Mardi-Gras/50826/related#nodeId=main&page=1">
Related</a> tab in <a href="http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebhigh">
Britannica High</a>’s <a href="https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Mardi-Gras/50826#main-ada">
Mardi Gras page</a>, users are given a curated list of Web’s Best Sites, including a link to Mobile’s “<a href="https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/mobiles-mardi-gras/">Mardi Gras</a>” entry in the
<i>Encyclopedia of Alabama</i> and <i>Mardi Gras New Orlean’s “</i><a href="https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/">Mardi Gras History</a>.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rural festivities in southwestern Louisiana tend to be more unique than others. In
<i>FOCUS on Geography</i> from <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-eue">
Education Source</a>, <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=c8f38fa9-b90a-366a-b26f-d6f35fc69993">
Photojournal: The Cajun Mardi Gras</a> offers not only several historic photos, but also explains the purpose behind
<i>courir de Mardi Gras</i> (runs), which are kept secret until the day of the event and mostly excluded to outsiders.
<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=d876d83b-dc9b-3171-ac6f-77dca74ffda3">
Mardi Gras Magic</a> and <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=1933bd4b-6830-316e-bb62-78d453f92b98">
Let the Good Times Roll</a>, both from <i>Louisiana Life</i> in<a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-f6h"> MasterFILE Complete</a>, give a clear picture of building the floats and where to find parties.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e860xna">
eBook K-8 Collection</a>, young readers can learn about the role of krewes; the Organization of Rex; the symbolism of the purple, green, and gold throws; and various cultural dances through the titles,
<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=abc791b2-2a37-345e-a6ed-5e1949fb13e6">
Mardi Gras</a> by Julie Murray and <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=b37408ee-da35-30ad-8c9a-8e25dfe8807b">
Mardi Gras and Carnival</a> by Molly Aloian.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Food<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For recipe ideas in these last few days before Lent, explore
<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=a1fab569-1033-36d8-91ae-7b908c759358">
Mardi Gras Fixin’s</a> (<i>Louisiana Life</i>) to find suggestions for Crawfish Shells, Louisiana Guacamole, Dirty Rice, and a delicious Bloody Mary with pickled okra spears.
<i>Food & Wine</i>, a publication in <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-mat">
MAS Complete</a>, offers a step-by-step process (with pictures) for making the perfect King Cake, New Orleans-Style Barbecue Shrimp, and Crawfish Fettuccine in
<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=f0566c77-11c3-365a-9145-e37674f1f784">
Feasting Season</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Information about the celebrations, food and history is plentiful in MeL, but there are also resources that remind us not every story is a happy one. The article,
<a href="https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A823956987/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=8ba0f343">
With Spotlight on New Orleans, Louisiana Moves Homeless Out of Sight</a>, published last month in the
<i>New York Times</i> from <a href="http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ovic">
Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints</a>, offers yet another perspective of Mardi Gras season.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact
</b><a href="mailto:melerhelp@mcls.org"><b>melerhelp@mcls.org</b></a><b> for help.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brought to you by <b>Ann Kaskinen</b> from the MeL Team. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Want more information on MeL?<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span> Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, visit<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><a href="http://mel.org/" target="_blank" title="http://mel.org/">http://mel.org</a>,
or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new" target="_blank" title="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new">GovDelivery</a>. We encourage
you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The MeL project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Ann Kaskinen</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">MeL Engagement Specialist, K-12</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Midwest Collaborative for Library Services</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">517-325-5333</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:kaskinena@mcls.org"><span style="color:blue">kaskinena@mcls.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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