But if you aren't quite up to that kind of epic throwdown, you might be wondering where else in the U.S. to celebrate Mardi Gras outside New Orleans. Many cities also serve up king cake, the round pastry topped with icing and green, purple, and yellow sprinkles. (By the way, those classic Mardi Gras colors are said to carry specific meanings: green represents faith; purple stands for power; and yellow symbolizes justice.) And most celebrate not only Fat Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras), but also the entire Carnival season. In many traditions, that begins on January 6, with Mardi Gras always falling on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.