In which U.S. state is Mardi Gras a legal holiday?

In which U.S. state is Mardi Gras a legal holiday? Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in Louisiana.

Louisiana’s state law lists Mardi Gras Day among its legal holidays and days of public rest. State departments generally observe the holiday, although essential services and some private businesses may operate. Local rules can also affect whether schools, courts, banks or municipal offices close.

The legal status has deep historical roots. The Louisiana Legislature passed the Mardi Gras Act of 1875, formally recognizing the day as a legal holiday. That action reflected the celebration’s importance in the state, especially in New Orleans and southern Louisiana, where Carnival traditions had become central to civic and cultural life.

Mardi Gras is not a federal holiday, so it is not observed uniformly across the United States. Alabama, Mississippi and Texas also host important Mardi Gras celebrations, but their festivities do not make Mardi Gras a statewide legal holiday in the same way. In Louisiana, the holiday falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.