Fat Tuesday
Carnival's final day
Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the last day of carnival season before the fasting period of Lent begins.
The name translates French *Mardi Gras*, reflecting the tradition of using up rich foods before abstinence.
In New Orleans and other cities with carnival traditions, Fat Tuesday is the climax of celebration: We're heading to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday.
Louisiana's largest city
- king cakeCarnival pastry hiding trinket
- Bourbon StreetFamous New Orleans thoroughfare
- French QuarterHistoric New Orleans neighborhood
- LouisianaGulf Coast pelican state
Cajun · Creole · gumbo · jambalaya · zydeco · bayou · po' boy · second line
Ceremonial public procession
- floatsRemains on surface
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- beadsSmall pierced ornaments for stringing
masks · samba · steelpan · calypso · soca · feathers · sequins · confetti
Eating sumptuously together
- gluttonyGreedy excess in consumption
- overindulgenceExcessive consumption or enjoyment
- sweetsSugary food items
- beignetsFried dough with sugar
pancakes · fritters · butter · sugar · decadence · gorging · last hurrah · splurge
Christian fasting season
- Ash WednesdayLent's opening day
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
confession · repentance · liturgical · Catholic · Christian · preparation · sacrifice · forty days
New Orleans
Louisiana's largest city
- king cakeCarnival pastry hiding trinket
- Bourbon StreetFamous New Orleans thoroughfare
- French QuarterHistoric New Orleans neighborhood
Louisiana · Cajun · Creole · gumbo · jambalaya · zydeco · bayou · po' boy · second line · throws
parade
Ceremonial public procession
- floatsRemains on surface
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
beads · masks · samba · steelpan · calypso · soca · feathers · sequins · confetti · dancing
feasting
Eating sumptuously together
- gluttonyGreedy excess in consumption
- overindulgenceExcessive consumption or enjoyment
- sweetsSugary food items
beignets · pancakes · fritters · butter · sugar · decadence · gorging · last hurrah · splurge · treats
Lent
Christian fasting season
- Ash WednesdayLent's opening day
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
abstinence · confession · repentance · liturgical · Catholic · Christian · preparation · sacrifice · forty days
- church calendarAdvent, Easter Sunday, Lent, Christmas, Pentecost
- holy daysEaster Sunday, holy day, Easter Week, Christmas Eve, sabbath day
- LentAsh Wednesday, fasting, abstinence, almsgiving, forty days
- church feastsfeast day, holy day, solemnity, All Saints Day, All Souls Day
- Fatlard, blubber, suet, tallow, adipose
- Religious HolidaysEaster Sunday, Passover, Pentecost, Good Friday, Ramadan
Fat TuesdayAsh Wednesday
Lent's opening day
Lent · Good Friday · fasting · Lenten season · penance