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Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras takes place every year on Shrove Tuesday, the last day before lent begins in the Christian tradition. It also marks the end of the Carnival season for many Catholic and Orthodox communities. Because lent is a time to give up things such fatty foods and festivities, Mardi Gras is a day of excess. It is the last day to enjoy things forbidden during lent.

Traditionally, people would try to get rid of things like milk, butter, and eggs. They would often use these ingredients to make things such as pancakes, a tradition that is still prevalent in England, where they call Shrove Tuesday “Pancake Day”.

In many places around the world, Mardi Gras and Carnival involve huge parties that feature parades, masks, and of course, food. Some of the most famous of these celebrations take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Venice, Italy. Several cities in the United States also have Mardi Gras celebrations. The most famous of these is the New Orleans Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a public holiday in all of Louisiana.