Fat Tuesday Celebrations Around the World

Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. As Lent is a season of penance and strict self-discipline, Fat Tuesday in many countries has become a day of celebration before it begins. Here are some of the Fat Tuesday traditions from around the world.

In England and Ireland, the tradition is to eat pancakes. The idea being to use up flour, sugar and butter, whose use is to be restricted during Lent. They call the day Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. English pancakes are more similar to French crepes than American pancakes, as they are made without a leavening ingredient, and are eaten with fillings, both sweet and savory. Meat and cheese are common savory fillings, and sweet options usually include golden syrup, a fruit coulis, or sugar and lemon juice. There are pancake races where people run while trying to flip a pancake and catch it again in the pan. Running or standing still, it’s something people can enjoy trying their hand at either way on Shrove Tuesday.

Carnival is celebrated in many Catholic countries in Europe. The idea is also that of celebrating and using up rich foods before the Lenten season begins. However in some of the biggest celebrations, folk culture has been absorbed into the tradition, such as dressing up and wearing masks. In Venice you will see children, and some adults dressing up, particularly in costumes involving capes, pointy hats and masks. Some people dress up as statues and pose in public areas. Though it’s a little incongruous to see them sitting on the water taxi, in full costumes and body paint, traveling to and from their locations!

New Orleans is the first place people think of when they hear the words Mardi Gras. This is the French translation of Fat Tuesday. Louisiana, formerly part of New France, retains its French identity. The traditional colors for the festival are purple, gold and green, representing justice, power and faith. Parades are organized throughout the city, and those on the floats throw traditional trinkets to the crowds, such as beads, doubloons (metal or wooden dollar-sized coins) and small, inexpensive toys. People traditionally eat King cake, a coffee cake with a bean or baby figurine baked into it. The person who finds the prize has to provide the King cake at the next celebration.