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<\/p>\nToday is Fat Tuesday … or as it is more commonly know Mardi gras! Mardi gras in French, of course, literally means ‘fat Tuesday’. While this year’s Mardi gras won’t be the same due to Covid, it’s still a day for celebration.<\/p>\n
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Mardi Gras marks the beginning of the Easter season for Catholics around the world. And while most associate Mardi Gras with the Christian calendar today, it traces its origins back further to pagan celebrations of the new year (which used to co\u00efncide with the arrival of spring in March).<\/p>\n
De nos jours<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>These days<\/em>, lit. Of our days<\/em><\/span>, Mardi Gras is the culmination of Carnival, a time of feasting and celebration before the start of le car\u00eame (p\u00e9riode de je\u00fbne et d\u2019aust\u00e9rit\u00e9 qui dure 40 jours<\/a>)<\/strong>2<\/a><\/sup>Lent (period of fasting and austerity lasting 40 days<\/em><\/span>, which begins on le mercredi ces cendres<\/strong>3<\/a><\/sup>Ash Wednesday<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n Mardi Gras is traditionally celebrated with des costumes, des defil\u00e9s, et des f\u00eates<\/strong>4<\/a><\/sup>costumes, parades, and parties<\/em><\/span>. It’s considered the last chance for fun and frivolity … and to feast … before giving all of that up for le car\u00eame<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Mardi Gras is also traditionally celebrated with des cr\u00eapes, des beignets, ou des gaufres<\/strong>5<\/a><\/sup>crepes, fritters, or waffles<\/em><\/span> or other fried or browned doughs, perhaps historically a chance to use up les oeufs et le beurre<\/strong>6<\/a><\/sup>the eggs and butter<\/em><\/span> that would traditionally not be used during Lent.<\/p>\n This video from the French public broadcast service France 24 highlights some other traditions from Dunkirk and Granville … before the pandemic.<\/p>\nLes traditions de Mardi Gras<\/h3>\n