2/24/1857: Date of the first Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans

134: Number of years Mardi Gras has been a legal holiday in Louisiana

9: Number of Mardi Gras parades to be held in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday

3: Number of official Mardi Gras colors (purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power)

Source: www.mardigrasneworleans.com