Chez Nous Mardi Gras Celebration!

By Catherine Grace Polatidis '26

On a chilly Thursday morning before winter break, French 4 students gathered in the

commons to prepare a grand Mardi Gras celebration for the whole school. Students in charge of the celebration were divided into groups to tackle the different activities on display. Some helped coordinate the dances, others rolled dough and dusted beignets, and a few handled the arts and crafts table. This celebration of Mardi Gras lasted the whole school day, supplying the student body with delicious beignets every lunch period and uplifting the spirits of the whole school.

As the building filled with the decadent smell of fried beignets, students were invited to participate in cultural Mardi Gras dances originating in Louisiana. All students who take Ms. Crosson’s French class are required to learn the dance and awards were given out for the best dancers! 

At the beignet making station, the seniors took turns rolling out dough that French students volunteered to make for the celebration. With the help of a couple of faculty

members and students alike, overflowing batches of beignets were served with dustings of powdered sugar to each and every ND student. Throughout the school, students wore the iconic Mardi Gras colors: Purple, Green, and Gold, and adorned shiny beaded necklaces. Students could also participate in mask making, decorating them in feathers, gems and paint. 

The Mardi Gras celebration was a huge success at ND and I am sure the next French class cannot wait to expand on our newest tradition in 2027!

All Photos Courtesy of Catherine Grace Polatidis '26

Edited By: Catherine Grace Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

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