The most committed of the revelers in the southern US city began gathering on parade routes on a freezing Monday night to camp out ready for the big event.

“We’re back!” Lawton Fabacher, 29, a native New Orleanian said as she sprayed gray paint on a replica of the Saints Super Bowl trophy before a parade Sunday night. Tens of thousands of spectators dressed in Valentine-red mingled with Saints fans attired in team colors of black-and-gold, mixed in with traditional Carnival colors of purple, green and gold. Despite near-freezing temperatures overnight, hundreds of ladders and tents lined the streetcar tracks of the historic avenue. Their owners camped out in anticipation of a full morning of parades, marching bands and floats.

Also known as “fat Tuesday,” this pre-Lenten festival is celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and communities. In a strict sense, Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday, is celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide and is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. Mardi Gras is thus the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink. In practice, the festival is generally celebrated for one full week before Lent. Mardi Gras is marked by spectacular parades featuring floats, pageants, elaborate costumes, masked balls, and people dancing in the streets.

Mardi Gras originated as one of the series of carnival days held in all Roman Catholic countries between Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, and Ash Wednesday; these carnivals had their origin in pre-Christian spring fertility rites. The most famous modern Mardi Gras festivities are those held in New Orleans, La.; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nice, France; and Cologne, Germany.

The City of Miami Florida is another place in the world where efforts are underway to help the nation of Haiti recovers from the earthquake that left it devastated.

The Magic City Casino will be hosting a concert in order to raise funds for the victims of the Haitian Earthquake. The concert will feature the following artists such as Cuban American Singer, Model and Actress Maria Lourdes, Cuban Rap Star Rey El Vikingo, Cuban Salsa Stars Hansel and Raul. The concert will also feature the Colombian American Actress, Model and Television Presenter Adriana Cata~no, Cuban Model Sissi, Cuban Salsa Star Rey Ruiz, and the Celia Cruz All Stars. The Magic City Casino Event will be taking place on the 24th of January 2010.

The Latin Stars that also participated in a seperate effort for the cause of the Haitian people was Juanes, Rudy Perez of Calle 13, and Fanny Lu. Fanny Lu wrote an article titled “God Bless Haiti, My Heart Is With Your People”, while Alejandro Sanz and Ricky Martin sent their messages of support via Twitter.

The Colombian Singer and Superstar Shakira has asked the public for help with donations via UNICEF along with the US Latin Superstar Selena Gomez. The Mexican Singers such as Alex Syntek and Ana Barbara has asked for help for the people of Haiti. Olga Ta~non has also asked for help and has declared her intention to pray for the victims of the Haitian Earthequake.

The Argentine and Venezuelan Singer Ricardo Montaner [famous for his romantic ballads] challeneged the world to be active when it comes to combatting poverty as well as other ills that plagued Haiti. He said that “the time to be still has passed”. Luis Fonsi has also invited the people to contribute.

It has long been a Philharmonic tradition at the New Year to present a program consisting of the lively and at the same time nostalgic music from the vast repertoire of the Johann Strauss family and its contemporaries. These concerts not only delight the audiences in the Musikverein in Vienna, but also enjoy great international popularity through the worldwide television broadcasts, which now reach over 50 countries.

Originating during a dark period of Austria’s history, these concerts were initially conceived for a local audience as a reminder of better times and a source of hope for the future. Today millions of people throughout the world are similarly encouraged by the light-hearted yet subtly profound character of this music, and draw joy and optimism for the New Year ahead.

It is the desire of the Philharmonic not only to provide musically definitive interpretations of the masterworks of this genre, but at the same time, as musical ambassadors of Austria, to send people all over the world a New Year’s greeting in the spirit of hope, friendship and peace.