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Mardi Gras. (n.) "Shrove Tuesday, last day of carnival, day of eating and merrymaking before the fasting season of Lent," 1690s, French, literally "fat Tuesday," from mardi "Tuesday" (12c. in Old French, from Latin Martis diem "day of the planet Mars;" see Tuesday) + gras "fat," from Latin crassus, "thick," which is of unknown origin. Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. The practice of abstaining from meat during Lent is the ultimate origin for the word carnival, since it comes from the Latin words carne (“flesh”) and levare (“to remove,” “to take away”). The two terms we have for the celebration take different perspectives: half empty (carnival) and half full (Mardi Gras). Mardi Gras (UK: / ˌ m ɑːr d i ˈ ɡ r ɑː /, US: / ˈ m ɑːr d i ɡ r ɑː /; [1] [2] also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the final day of Carnival (also known as Shrovetide or Fastelavn); it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. [3] Mardi Gras is a festive day celebrated in France on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season. The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent. What does Mardi Gras mean? Translated to English, "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday." Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and gras means "fat." This name comes from the custom of eating all the fatty, rich foods in the house prior to Lent in order to prepare for fasting and abstinence. So, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The word "Mardi Gras" comes from the French phrase "Mardi Gras," meaning "Fat Tuesday." The first recorded Mardi Gras celebration in the United States took place in 1703 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The most famous Mardi Gras parade in the United States is the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, featuring colorful floats, costumed riders, and throws. Learn the history & origin of Mardi Gras from Arthur Hardy, the world's foremost authority on Mardi Gras. Insider Tours offers vacation packages featuring all the BEST that Mardi Gras 2025 has to offer! Parade tickets, Bourbon St. Balcony Party, ghost tour, swamp tour, plantation tour, beads, gu In 1870, Mardi Gras' second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras "throws.". Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). But Mardi Gras history actually extends all the way back to the days before Christianity in Ancient Rome, and has roots in pagan spring festivals. As with most other holidays with a deep heritage, the traditions and customs of Mardi Gras evolved as it moved through countries, continents, and centuries and became the raucous, joy-filled PressReader. Catalog; For You; The Times (Shreveport) Learn history of these famous Mardi Gras words, phrases 2025-02-19 - Meredith G. White . For those new to Louisiana, when Mardi Gras season rolls around, the terminology can be confusing and difficult to pronounce, or spell. Since Lent includes 40 days of fasting for some, this is one last chance to enjoy excess before going without. The word "Mardi" means "Tuesday" in French and the word "Gras" means "fat," so the translation of Mardi Gras is literally "Fat Tuesday." Related Articles. Creative Ideas for an Unforgettable 21st Birthday Celebration Mardi Gras definition: . See examples of MARDI GRAS used in a sentence. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, these pagan traditions evolved into what we now know as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. The name itself derives from the French words ‘mardi’ meaning Tuesday, and ‘gras’ meaning fat – referring to indulging in rich foods before starting 40 days of fasting during Lent. The meaning of MARDI GRAS is Shrove Tuesday often observed (as in New Orleans) with parades and festivities. How to use Mardi Gras in a sentence. The History of New Orleans Mardi Gras . Although the date of the first organized celebration of Mardi Gras in New Orleans is debatable, the 1730 account of one Marc-Antoine Caillot (a young clerk sent to Louisiana by the French Company of the Indies) mentions a celebration with music and dance, mask-wearing and costumes—including cross-dressing. Mardi Gras definition: An occasion of great festivity and merrymaking. Every year, as winter fades and spring approaches, the streets of New Orleans explode with color, music, and celebration. Mardi Gras, the grandest festival in Louisiana, is famous for its parades, beads, masked revelers, and deep cultural traditions. But how did this extravagant celebration come to be? In two words—sensory overload. But more specifically, it's a frosted seasonal treat that Mardi Gras partygoers eat between January 6 (otherwise known as Epiphany, Three King's Day, or Twelfth Night, and Fat Tuesday), which is the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Typically, king cake is made of a rich brioche dough and a Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, marks not only the last day of Carnival but also the last day observants can eat meat and enjoy other indulgences before Lent.
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