Fat Tuesday: Mardi Gras king cake with baby and beads

Fat Tuesday is celebrated with huge parties, elaborate parades, and all-night celebrations in cities around the world

Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”) is the ultimate celebration of fun and indulgence – a day to let loose, party hard and feast on all the rich treats you can imagine. Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. Many people traditionally give up at least one thing during the 40-day fast. The fast entails refraining from meat, wine, or whatever else is chosen by the individual.

Sin, Repent, Repeat

Many people like to go all out for a huge party since it’s usually their last day to indulge in their vices. The majority of people find that the best way to go through a 40-day fast is to celebrate beforehand because it takes a lot of willpower to do so.

The origins of Fat Tuesday have roots in unrestrained pagan rituals for spring and fertility that were full of excesses thousands of years ago. Celebrations can also be traced back to ancient Rome. With Rome’s acceptance of Christianity, the desire to include Fat Tuesday in Christianity became a goal. As a result, preparations for Ash Wednesday and fasting for Lent were made to include Fat Tuesday and all of its unrestrained immorality. Over time, the celebration spread across Europe until it finally reached North America and was adopted by many cultures that put a unique spin on the holiday.

6 Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Mardi Gras

What Happens on Fat Tuesday?

According to tradition, those who were preparing for Lent were instructed to eat all the food and beverages from their houses that included fats (dairy, lard), meat, and sugar. These were foods that would be given up for the duration of Lent (fasting). 

The king cake is a New Orleans tradition that originated in France. A plastic baby figurine is baked into the cake, and whoever finds the baby while eating a slice of cake is crowned the king or queen of Mardi Gras and pays for the cake for the next year. Some people believe the baby promises prosperity to whoever cuts the piece with it, viewing it as the infant Jesus Christ.

Celebrate with Decadent Food on Fat Tuesday

Today, Fat Tuesday is celebrated with huge parties, elaborate parades, and all-night celebrations in cities around the world. From New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro, people have found unique ways to mark the occasion and celebrate in their own cultural style. 

If you’re looking for an excuse to pull out your best costume and enjoy the festivities, Fat Tuesday is the perfect time! Grab some friends, throw on some beads, get your hands on some delicious food and daiquiris from Daiquiri Depot, and let the good times roll! 

By Leslie Radford
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