Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday, is also known as Shrove Tuesday, and begins Tuesday, February 17.

Mardi Gras refers to the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which starts on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices were associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent.

Popular practices included wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition.

Cities famous for Mardi Gras celebrations include Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Quebec City, Quebec in Canada; Mazatlan in Mexico; and, of course New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States.

This post originally appeared on my blog in 2010 http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com/2010/02/mardi-gras-fat-tuesday.html

Linda Blatchford Jewelry Designer www.LinorStore.com www.lindab142.etsy.com www.meylah.com/linorstore http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com Copyright 2014. All right reserved.