NEW ORLEANS -- John Delavan wouldn't miss it for the world -- he has been to seven in a row and he doesn't plan to miss one anytime soon.

Delavan (graduate-mass communications) is one of many who is enjoying Mardi Gras, the decadent and often lewd celebration that has become a tradition in New Orleans.

"It's so much fun here," Delavan said. "I haven't missed one in seven years and my goal is to make it back each year until I'm 40."

Delavan's determination to attend the event is just short of amazing. He said he and six friends traveled nearly 24 hours through snow, sleet and freezing rain just to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras weekend.

"Three of us took turns driving and we drove through the night," Delavan said. "The weather in Virginia was awful and we had to take a detour through the Carolinas, but I wasn't going to stop for anything. It's Mardi Gras."

By definition, Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is a Catholic religious celebration that occurs just before Lent. It is during this time that faithful followers are to purge their vices before making the personal sacrifices that the observance of Lent traditionally calls for.

But while the Mardi Gras celebration can be traced back to religious beginnings, the modern-day celebration is notorious for its decadence and debauchery.

"It's like the Mifflin Streak with a million people," said Terry Coleman, a Penn State graduate who made the trip from Dayton, Ohio. "It's pretty amazing."

Amazing, however, might not be a strong enough description. During Mardi Gras, women lift their shirts and men drop their pants in an effort to "get beads," the pearl-like necklaces that are the currency of Mardi Gras. Open sexual acts are common and occur right along the street throughout the celebration, fueling the raunchy reputation that precedes Mardi Gras festivities.

"Anything that would be illegal anywhere else is legal here during Mardi Gras," Delavan said. "It's unlike anything you could ever imagine."

One member of Delavan's group, Brian Petro (senior-exercise and sport science), agreed.

"I had no idea what it would be like," he said. "Mardi Gras is something you can't describe."

Each year, 46 days before Easter, over 1 million people converge on New Orleans to join in the festivities.

"The city is just packed," said Ken Priore, a Long Island native who now attends law school at Tulane. "It's great to see all these people in town. It makes Mardi Gras that much more festive."

Priore said he is not surprised to see Penn State students at Mardi Gras.

"Penn State is such a large school that someone's bound to come down for it," he said. "Besides, with all that snow and cold up there, there couldn't be a better excuse to come down."

Excuses or not, Coleman said he recommended that everyone see Mardi Gras at least once.

"Mardi Gras is a time for everyone to be who they want," Coleman said, adding, "It's a great experience, but there's no way to explain it to anyone who's never been there before."