This Day in History:, New Orleanians Take to br the Streets for Mardi Gras.br February 27, 1827.br Groups of masked students br danced in the streets, br marking the beginnings of the br city's Mardi Gras celebrations.br The Mardi Gras celebration br was brought to the region by French br settlers towards the end of the 1600s.br By the time students in br New Orleans danced in the br streets in costumes and masks.br the celebration of Carnival br had been popular in Mobile, AL, br for more than 100 years.br The New Orleans studentbr celebrations were inspired by their Paris studies.br Within five years, a French plantation br owner had begun raising money br to fund the celebration.