The word carnival, another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, also derives from this feasting tradition: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat, from the Latin carnem for meat. Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the rich, fatty foods-meat, eggs, milk, lard and cheese-that remained in their homes, in anticipation of several weeks of eating only fish and different types of fasting. Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and gras means “fat.” In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.”
As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.Īlong with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether.
Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. Mardi Gras in New Orleans Came from a Secret Society What Is Mardi Gras?
