Mardi Gras Day Feb 14, 1961. The holidays are over, the nation settles into a deep freeze, except in New Orleans, where all attention turns to Mardi Gras. For all the people you see costumed on Mardi Gras, it begins at home. I am in the bear costume, at 3 years old. My older brothers are a cowboy, and a circus master riverboat gambler, and my sister is a bunny rabbit. After the family picture, we would head to the parades. It must not have been a very cold winter that season, as the exposed water pipe is not wrapped! If we had a forecast of a "hard" freeze (mid 20's or below), Dad would wrap it for the rest of the season. View full size.