2) What are the traditional symbolic colors of Mardi Gras, and what they represent?
The traditional symbolic colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold, and green.
Purple represents justice and symbolizes royalty and power. It is also associated with penance and repentance during the Lenten season that follows Mardi Gras.
Gold represents wealth and symbolizes the power and opulence associated with Mardi Gras.
Green represents faith and, similarly to the color purple, is also associated with the season of Lent. It symbolizes the Catholic tradition of fasting and penance during this period.