Mardi Gras is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition because it marks the final day of feasting before the penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The name Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” referring to the practice of consuming rich foods—like meats, butter, and sweets—before the fasting and abstinence of Lent.
Why is it Catholic?
- Tied to the Liturgical Calendar – Mardi Gras is the culmination of Carnival, a season of celebration leading up to Lent, which is a major period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in the Catholic Church.
- Follows the Tradition of Fasting & Feasting – Historically, Catholics were required to give up meat and other indulgences for the 40 days of Lent, so they would feast beforehand to use up those foods.
- Rooted in European Catholic Culture – The holiday originated in Catholic countries like France, Spain, and Italy before spreading to New Orleans and other parts of the world.
- Has Christian Symbolism – Even some of the Mardi Gras traditions, like the King Cake, are tied to Catholicism, representing the Three Wise Men who visited Jesus on Epiphany.
So, while Mardi Gras might seem like a wild secular party today, its origins are unmistakably Catholic—a last grand celebration before entering the solemn journey of Lent!
Many people do not know that Mardi Gras is quite a family activity. Tourists pass around a bad rap because about 5% of the parade route goes through the “party” areas where people do unmentionable things just for a set of cheap beads.
The reality is, that the krewe (the people who are on the floats) spend the entire year (and more money than you can fathom) collecting stuffed animals, cups, light up toys, and specialty items to throw during their parade! Believe me, they DON’T WANT to see anything more than hopeful faces yelling, “Throw me something, Mister!” over the loud roar of the marching band following them.
My family lives in the greater New Orleans area and we enjoy going to a few parades every year, but some years, we do find ourselves leaving town! It’s just what happens when schools close for the week in February and most businesses are closed (especially downtown!). Even though we homeschool, Mardi Gras is quite the disruption! Since parades start right after New Year’s Day, we get the best of both worlds by attending a few parades AND leaving during Mardi Gras week (sometimes!).
Click here for my pinterest page that has a fun video about how locals do Mardi Gras!
