Sat 2/25--Milonga De Carnaval W/Dj Jessica/Class W//Silvana

SPECIAL SATURDAY 2/25/17 Dancing to Tango music feathers, beads & masks what more do we need to have a blast It is the last weekend of Carnaval/Mardi Gras!! Lent begins on Wednesday so it is time to party!! Milonga de Carnaval--wear one or all of the colors of Mardi Gras--purple, green or gold. Wear a mask, beads if you have them, if not, not to worry, we will have plenty there for you to take. We will have the traditional "Kings Cake" and whomever gets the 'baby" toy in the cake, will be crowed Queen and King of the evening!! We will also have the traditional New Orleans "hurracaine" 8pm--Milonga class with Silvana Brizuela 9pm Dancing with DJ Jessica playing some Carnaval Tangos It should be a fun evening! Class: $15 Milonga: $10 Class and Milonga: $22 Dance Union, 16 Bow St Somerville MA [hidden] Origins of Mardi Gras According to historians, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the meat, eggs, milk and cheese that remained in their homes, preparing for several weeks of eating only fish and fasting. In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” The word “carnival,” another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, may also derive from this vegetarian-unfriendly custom: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat. In New Orleans-Serving a King Cake during Mardi Gras celebrations is a tradition that honors the Magi who visited the Christ child on the twelfth night or Epiphany (January 6). The cake is shaped in a ring with a pecan, bean or plastic baby placed inside the dough, before baking, to represent the baby Jesus. The cake is then decorated with the purple, green and gold colors of Mardi Gras, and divided among guests. Whoever finds the baby doll will host the next King Cake celebration. Some Tangos: Todo el ano es carnival-Julio deCaro Carnival de mi barrio Otra vez, carnival—Di Sarli Carnaval—tango Gardel, Razzano Noches de Carnaval-Di Sarli orchestra Despues del Carnaval-Fresedo El principe Carnaval—Serrano y Valverde More Info below.