Why is Mardi Gras Called Fat Tuesday?

Mardi Gras is one of the most celebrated events all around Europe, Australia, and America. It is celebrated just a day before Ash Wednesday that includes many exciting and intriguing activities such as cultural presentations, feasts, and carnival parades. The most famous cities where Mardi Gras is widely celebrated are Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Sydney in Australia, and New Orleans in Louisiana.

Fat Tuesday is the English translation of the French term ‘Mardi Gras.’ Mardi Gras is held and celebrated a day before the start of the Lent season, which implies people only eat pertinent food during this period. Fasting is one of the most common activities observed in many countries once Lent practices have started.

It is called Fat Tuesday because people do not consume prohibited food during Lent, such as Eggs, Meat, or Fish. People are allowed to eat the food in their homes, and the most common dish served and prepared during Lent is Pancake.

The French call this event Shrove Tuesday because, on this day, they consume excessive drinks and food as they consider it the last time to hold merrymaking activities. The celebrations of the Mardi Gras festival may vary from country to country.

The residents of Brazil experiences the most exciting activities, such as street parties, parades, and feats. This festival is enthusiastically celebrated even by the people of Canada in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The festivities in Canada includes several exciting activities such as food, music, and comedy festivals. (See Why Do People Throw Beads at Mardi Gras?)

Since the early 1700s, the Mardi Gras festival is celebrated incredibly in America named New Orleans. Also, England is not even far behind New Orleans as Pancake day is ardently celebrated, where people are only preparing foods rich in butter, milk, and eggs. (See Do people in Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo?)