The Magic of Mardi Gras

Tuesday night, I ventured out to experience one of my favorite Kansas City celebrations, Phat Tuesday in Kansas City’s Crossroad’s Art District.  Mardi Gras is a magical night. People come with creative costumes and identities limited only by their imagination. The costumes may be an alter ego, an iconic personality or just plain fun. Part of the fun is in the blending of cultures that is a signature part of Mardi Gras.

The Mardi Gras festivities in Kansas City including the parade are not advertised.  People just kind of know to show up.  While many involved are artists of one type or another, people from all walks of life show up in creative costumes and enjoy the music and revelry.  The Fat Tuesday festivities included music at an indoor venue and a fun performance by the Marching Panther’s drum line.  There were several colorful floats that participated in a parade from the YJ’s area at 18^th and Wyandotte down 18^th St to the Musician’s Foundation in the Jazz District at 18^th and Vine. 

Why am I talking about Mardi Gras on a psychology blog?  Phat Tuesday is a great example of the benefits of getting out and celebrating.  For those of us with intellectual tendencies, the magical atmosphere of Mardi Gras presents a good opportunity to get out of our head and into our bodies with dance, movement and creativity.  On Fat Tuesday, dance, music and the abundance of spectacles surrounding me keeps me in the present moment.  It’s a creative action oriented event, which makes it great therapy for someone with a King style personality style (linear and nurturing).  Recreation is an important part of life.  Recreation allows us to unwind and recharge our batteries. 

Then there are the beads… We all know how that works.  ; )

For more information on personality styles check out the KWML course.  If you want to see more pics from Fat Tuesday in Kansas City, check out this link.  If you have comments or want to talk about Phat Tuesday in your town or other ways to get out of your head and enjoy the present moment, feel free to write something in the comments below.