Mardi Gras (/ˈmɑːrdi ˌɡrɑː/), or Fat Tuesday, refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday (known as Shrove Tuesday). Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.
Mardi Gras Celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Also called: Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday
Type: Christian, Cultural
Significance: Celebration period before fasting season of Lent
Celebrations: Parades, parties
Date: Day before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter
2019 date: March 5
Frequency: Annual
Related to: Shrove Tuesday; Carnival, Shrove Monday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Užgavėnės, Maslenitsa, Valentine's Day
Related popular practices are associated with Shrovetide celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, which is derived from the word shrive, meaning "to administer the sacrament of confession to; to absolve
