What is mardi gras?
Mardi Gras is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’
It marks the end of the period of Carnival and the beginning of Lent
What is Lent?
• Celebrated by Christians and Catholics
• 6 weeks leading up to Easter
• Penance, repentance, self-denial
• Devotional commemoration of crucifixion
What is Carnival?
• Festive season leading up to Lent
• Overturning of daily life
• Parades, parties, masquerades
• Celebrated world-wide
• Feast before the fast
Carnival is the gigantic party before everyone fasts and repents, and
is the grand finale.
And people. go. nuts.
Some important elements of
Mardi Gras are…
Purple
Green
Gold