When is Fat Tuesday?
Fat Tuesday occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday.
What is Fat Tuesday?
Vibrant parades, shimmering beads, and more food and drink than you can imagine all point to the last day of Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday. Also known as Mardi Gras Day and Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday is a huge party right before the somber season of Lent.
The Christian church calendar gives forty-five days to Lent, a time of reflection and fasting. Fat Tuesday is the chance to indulge a bit before heading into that season.
New Orleans has the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations, but Fat Tuesday is celebrated all over the world, anywhere with a history of Christians preparing for Lent. New Orleans celebrates Carnival from January 12th until Ash Wednesday, so Fat Tuesday is the last hurrah of a long festival.
Fun facts about Fat Tuesday!
- Mardi Gras translates from the French as “Fat Tuesday.”
- Fat Tuesday is always 47 days before Easter, so it can be any Tuesday between February 3rd and March 9th.
- Another name for Fat Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday, pointing to the practice of confessing and doing penance in order to get absolution for sins.
- Fat Tuesday started as a way to use up the meat and sweets that Christians would abstain from eating during Lent. In medieval times, it was probably a more solemn feast.
How to celebrate Fat Tuesday:
Attend a Mardi Gras festival, or just throw your own Fat Tuesday party. Stock up on the snacks and treats, and don’t forget the King Cake.
What’s the hashtag for Fat Tuesday?
Post on social media with #FatTuesday, #MardiGras, or #ShroveTuesday.