If you indulge (or overindulge) on Mardi Gras, you have participated in a centuries-old tradition. In French, Mardi means “Tuesday,” and gras means “fat,” hence why it is also called Fat Tuesday. The term describes the day before Ash Wednesday, when people eat rich foods, such as meat, eggs, milk, and cheese, before Lent—the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter—begins.
So why is it also called Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day? On Shrove Tuesday, Christians went to confession to be absolved of their sins, or to be shriven. Because certain foods, especially eggs, sugar, and fat, were restricted during Lent, they would be consumed by the day before it started to avoid waste. Because (pan)cakes use all three ingredients, they have become a traditional choice in numerous European countries. In Ireland and Commonwealth countries, pancakes are preferred. This has led to the day being called Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday. In Poland, a treat called pa̡czki, fruit-filled deep-fried pastries like doughnuts, are enjoyed. And many know that during Mardi Gras the traditional sweet is a king cake, a ring-shaped pastry, iced and sprinkled with gold, green, and purple sugar. Often the cake has a plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. According to tradition, the person who receives the piece of king cake with the baby is named “king” or “queen” of the Mardi Gras festivities and is obligated to host the next party.
But where did the practice begin? Let’s look at the history and learn the reasons behind the celebration. Fat Tuesday is the culmination of the celebratory time before Lent, a period of fasting in preparation of the celebration of Jesus’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is believed the custom of Mardi Gras took root as Christianity was becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire. The practice of fasting before Easter is mentioned around AD 325 in the records from the Council of Nicea, though this practice seems to stretch back to the early days of the church. The celebration preceding Lent likely grew in step with the fast and other springtime celebrations. Since people needed to dispose of their meat, eggs, and other rich foods before the fast began, the last day to do so became a day of feasting. This became known as Mardi Gras, among other names, and has continued to evolve into the many forms of celebration we know around the world today.
Whatever you call the Tuesday before Lent, it’s always 47 days before Easter Sunday, which is why the date changes year-to-year. But though the date may change, the celebration remains as a vital practice in Christianity. To learn more about Easter and how we’re celebrating it at the museum, check out our website.
By Judy Hilovsky, Copywriter and Editor
