Each year, Tuesday Gras is an essential traditional party. But do you know where does it come from and what are the customs that day? Here is what you need to know about this very special date.
The feast of Tuesday fatty Make a comeback Tuesday March 4, 2025or 48 days before Easter to be held on Sunday April 20 this year. This festive event marks the last day of the carnival. For the occasion, children and even adults take pleasure in disguising themselves, putting makeup, putting on their most beautiful mask and especially to taste good donuts or bugnes.
What is the origin of Mardi Gras?
Originally, Tuesday Gras is a pagan celebration of the time of the Romans, which celebrates the end of winter and therefore the arrival of spring. In the Roman calendar, this day was also an opportunity to transgress prohibitions by disguising and eating more than reason. Tuesday fat was then taken over in the Christian tradition to be associated with Lent. For Christians, Lent is a period of fasting and restriction of 40 days which ends on Easter Sunday.
Why do we call this “Tuesday fat” day?
Why is the party called “Tuesday fat”? In Italian, Tuesday fat said “carnevale”, a word that comes from “carne levare” (literally “withdraw the meat”), which refers to the “lean” days that will follow. During this period, Christians do not feed on egg or meat. This is why the day of Mardi Gras is marked by an abundance of meats and pastries (hence the name of “fat”).
During Tuesday fat, the faithful took the opportunity to eat all their food reserves. It was therefore also a time dedicated to entertainment and rejoicing to forget the concerns of everyday life just before Lent, hence the disguises and the carnival which is largely associated with Mardi Gras. Since then, certain traditions have remained anchored, and Tuesday Gras became a popular festival, despite religion.
What activities do with children for Mardi Gras?
In addition to disguising themselves for Mardi Gras, children can get time to achieve Manual activities and some tinkering. They can, for example, make an accessory for their costume (hat, crown, maracas) or immerse themselves in a coloring on the theme of Gras, which will be used to decorate their room for the occasion. Here are all our ideas for activities for children on Tuesday fat:
Dacks, bugnes, waffles … What do we eat on Tuesday fat?
Tuesday fatty party is also known for its sweet culinary traditions. In the past, it was a question of using the reserves of butter, oil and eggs so as not to waste them during the fasting period of Lent. From, Gras Tuesday we traditionally eat waffles, bugs or donuts (and all its regional variations!).
Recall that the feast of Tuesday fat is celebrated just before the ashes Wednesday. It is therefore the last day before the start of Lent who for Christians symbolizes a period of fasting and deprivation until Easter. Tuesday fatty allows the faithful (but not only) to take full advantage, especially by eating good things, before practicing fasting.
