Mardi Gras Day

Mardi Gras is the final day of the Carnival season, which is a celebratory period leading up to the Christian season of Lent. Its name is French for "Fat Tuesday" and it refers to the practice of consuming rich, fatty foods before the Lenten period of fasting and abstinence. It is celebrated in many countries, particularly those with a strong Roman Catholic presence. The most famous celebrations in the United States occur in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year, Mardi Gras Day will take place on February 17, 2026.