mardi gras tree.

Sometimes I feel like an undercover yankee in a strange, strange southern world.  For instance, last weekend Nick and I went to Sam's Club.  Right there in the entrance was a tree bedecked in Mardi Gras ornaments (green, purple, gold, those creepy mask faces) with a big fleur de lis on top.  I thought to myself... boy that's odd.  Christmas is over.

couldn't find a suitable mardi gras tree picture.  google it.  

Then my southern friend informed me, at a later date, that people around these parts keep their trees up until Easter.  They just switch their Christmas ornaments for Mardi Gras ornaments.  Their Christmas wreaths for Mardi Gras wreaths.  And their santa lawn ornaments for those creepy face mask things.  This must be true, because I am seeing a lot of Mardi Gras wreaths going up in my neighborhood.
Perhaps you don't find this to be the culture shock that I do.  I'm always surprised when I learn something new about an area that I had no idea existed before.  No. Idea.  At. All.
There you have it.  Mardi Gras trees.