Mardi Gras, beginning on Tuesday, March 17th, is a Christian holiday that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. The Carnival season is predominantly celebrated in countries with large Roman Catholic populations, with Mardi Gras being the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penance before Easter Sunday.
The holiday traditionally offered celebrants an opportunity to binge on rich, fatty foods like meat, eggs, milk, lard and cheese ahead of the fast.
Mardi Gras celebrations swept across medieval Europe as the Christian religion spread, with celebrations emerging in France, Germany, Spain and England.
Today, some of the biggest celebrations in the world take place in Brazil, Venice, Italy and New Orleans.
Fat Tuesday is a feast before fasting for the Lenten season begins, according to dynamiccatholic.com. The concept is to make it easier to fully engage in Lent and experience spiritual growth.
Fat Tuesday means the same as the French name Mardi Gras, which comes from the custom of using all the fats in the home in preparation for abstinence and fasting ahead of Lent.
Fat Tuesday derives from its traditional name, Shrove Tuesday − where “shrove” means to give absolution to be forgiven. Shrove Tuesday is an invitation to prepare for Lent and reflect on one’s life.
The famed New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities began in 1699 when two French explorers landed in what is now New Orleans. The explorers held a small celebration and called their landing spot Point du Mardi Gras.
In the following years, New Orleans and other French settlements began marking the holiday with large-scale events that included dinners, parties and balls.
The first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place in 1837. Louisiana is the only state where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday.
A Mardi Gras celebration is not complete without a King Cake. A round cake with a brioche texture, King Cakes are typically decorated with icing and sugars in bold colors like purple, green and gold. It’s usually filled with cream cheese or fruit.
Partakers may find a small toy baby or bean inside the cake. Whoever finds the object is typically tasked with hosting the next party.
Other common Mardi Gras foods include jambalaya, paczki, and pancakes.