Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday?

We never celebrated Mardi Gras as a kid. We called it Shrove Tuesday (one of several names for the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). My mother always made pancakes to honor the day. Pancakes were initially served to use up the milk, flour and eggs before the fasting time of Lent.

Shrove was originally "shrive," which means to be penitent, and seek forgiveness before Lent's start on Ash Wednesday.

Mardis Gras or "Fat Tuesday" is the same day, but has a much more festive tone. It is the last day to party and celebrates before the somber, fasting, penitent 40-days of Lent.

I was first introduced to Mardi Gras when we were stationed in Shreveport, LA. The "carnival season" runs from Epiphany to Fat Tuesday. The dates vary depending on when Easter is celebrated that year. You've probably seen the parades in New Orleans, but there are Mardi Gras parades across the globe. Beads and plastic coins called doubloons are thrown from floats. There are balls and parties throughout the season. The events are sponsored by krewes, which are organizations that sponsor balls, parade floats and events during the carnival season.

While we are often in areas where Mardi Gras is not celebrated, we keep the tradition alive in our family by enjoying King Cake, a tradition of Mardi Gras. The cake is bread dough (in various flavors and fillings) formed into a circle. The cake is frosted and sugared with the colors of Mardi Gras, purple, green and gold.

The Mardi Gras color tradition is more than 100 years old. They were selected by the Rex Krewe in New Orleans. According to Mardi Gras New Orleans, Rex selected the official Mardi Gras colors in 1872. The 1872 Rex Parade theme Symbolism of Colors gave meaning to the colors. Purple Represents Justice. Green Represents Faith. And Gold Represents Power. 

The cake contains a baby that represents Jesus the King. The person who gets the piece with the baby is supposed to bring the King Cake to the next year's party. So the cake colors and tradition have their roots in Christianity.

Whether you enjoy pancakes, King Cake or just raise a glass, enjoy the celebration, which is rich in symbolism, history and good old fashioned fun.