Mardi Gras -The Different Countries that Feast before the Fast!

Just the name Mardi Gras conjures up images of bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets of many partaking Countries.  Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday".  Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge - and often overindulge - before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent.  Today all around the world many countries celebrate Mardi Gras with masks, music and mayhem. 

In the United States, Mardi Gras draws millions of fun-seekers to New Orleans every year.  Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans on a grand scale, with masked balls and colorful parades, since French settlers arrived in early 1700s.  French royals, feather-covered showgirls, Energizer bunnies, painted clowns, masked lions - you can find them all in the streets of New Orleans at Mardi Gras.  By dawn on the most famous Tuesday, people have claimed the best spots on the streets to watch fabulous floats, outrageous performers, and visiting celebrities go by.  Many travel hundreds of miles to be part of the excitement.

In Canada Mardi Gras celebrations are common throughout the country, especially in major cities like Toronto, St. John's, Vancouver, and Montreal.  French speaking Quebec is the province where Mardi Gras is most widely celebrated in Canada.  Quebec City and Montreal hold Mardi Gras celebrations, with events such as music festivals, comedy festivals, food festivals, and street parties.

In Italy Carnevale is the traditional pre-Lenten celebration.  Carnevale was Mardi Gras predecessor.  The French borrowed this idea and made it popular.  This is a time of merry-making, masquerade processions, masked balls, parades, pageants, jugglers, magicians, stilt walkers, elegant costumes and opulent masks, singing and dancing, fireworks and outdoor feasts in the weeks prior to Ash Wednesday. 

In Sweden the celebration is called Fettisdagen.  It comes from the word "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday).  Originally, this was the only day one should eat semlor (cream filled bun/pastry).  These are now sold in most grocery stores and bakeries preceding the holiday, and up until Easter.

In Poland paczki (comparable to a jelly donut) are eaten on Fat Thursday.  Many Polish Americans celebrate Paczki Day on Fat Tuesday.  Traditionally, the reason for making paczki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because they were forbidden to be consumed due to Catholic fasting practices during Lent.

So it seems no matter what type of celebration you are looking for on Mardi Gras you can celebrate with many of the locals in numerous countries around the world.  Enjoy your Mardi Gras celebration!!!!!!!

Resources used wikipedia.org, mardi gra story and info please mardi gras