When is Mardi Gras? Why Fat Tuesday is celebrated, the origins of the holiday
The annual celebration is one of the most iconic cultural events in the United States, known for exuberant parades, festive music and indulgent foods. Fat Tuesday, the grand finale, marks the culmination of weeks of revelry and excitement.
But why do we celebrate? Let's take a closer look at the rich history behind this lively holiday, which stretches back centuries to ancient traditions and French colonial influences.
Mardi Gras is a weeks-long celebration that culminates on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
Fat Tuesday, often seen as the final burst of excitement before the solemn preparations for Easter, is today, March 4.
The Carnival season, or Mardi Gras season, officially begins on Epiphany, Jan. 6, and lasts through Fat Tuesday.
It's a time for celebration and is seen as a final burst of excitement before the solemn observances of the Easter season, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The origins of Carnival trace back to ancient times, rooted in pagan festivals that celebrated the arrival of spring. In the 4th century, these festivals were adapted by Christians and incorporated into the liturgical calendar as a period of indulgence before the penitential observance of Lent.
Back then, people celebrated 'Boeuf Gras,' meaning 'fatted calf," according to USA TODAY. It's a time for people to enjoy things such as fatty foods, sugar, alcohol and other items considered 'decadent.' They'd give themselves until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, or what is often called Fat Tuesday, to indulge.
The tradition then made its way through the colonies, and around 1699, French Canadians arrived in what is now Mobile, Alabama, according to USA TODAY.
Mardi Gras' origins can be traced back to France and Italy, but today, New Orleans is the largest and most famous place for the event.
While New Orleans has made a name for itself in terms of Mardi Gras, other countries also celebrate the event, including France, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago and Belgium, each with their own distinct traditions and festivities.
While Louisiana is home to one of the world's most renowned Mardi Gras celebrations, Texas embraces the Carnival season on a smaller scale.
Unlike the citywide revelry of New Orleans, most Texas cities host localized events at private venues and businesses. However, the most notable celebrations take place in coastal towns near the Louisiana border.
For instance, Beaumont's annual Mardi Gras Southeast Texas festival, which ran from Feb. 28 to March 2, draws thousands of visitors each year.
Texas is also home to the nation's third-largest Mardi Gras celebration — Mardi Gras! Galveston. Now in its 114th year, the festival attracts more than 350,000 visitors annually, according to Visit Galveston. The two-weekend event kicked off on Feb. 21 and will host final events today.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Mardi Gras 2025: When is Fat Tuesday? Why it's celebrated, origin
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