2) Mardi Gras Origins: From Ritualistic Pagan festival to Christian Celebration.

Traditional French Carnival Food in France:.

For kids, Mardi Gras in France is like Halloween without trick or treating for candy.

When is Mardi Gras and Carnival in France celebrated (and around the world)?.

Did Mardi Gras or Carnival originate in France?.

What’s the difference between Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day?.

Why is it called Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday?.

Description of Nice Carnival festivities:.

Carnival is celebrated differently in each country.1) Basic Carnival Facts: A refresher so you can connect the dots to their original pagan celebrations.It always falls on a Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday which is the first day of the lent season which lasts for 46 days until Easter Sunday.īut what exactly are the origins of this global street party, and why do we celebrate it? Is it a Christian creation, Pagan creation, French creation, or something else?īefore we dig into the origins of this wild street celebration, it’s essential to understand a few basic facts about modern traditions so you can connect the dots to their ancient roots.

What Is Mardi Gras? Mardi gras is the very last day of the Carnival season.Currently celebrated in over 50 countries with: parades, merrymaking, feasting, masquerading, festivals and entertainment. What is Carnival? It’s more like a season and lasts a few weeks, ending on the day before lent.Mardi Gras and Carnival are often used interchangeably, especially in the US however they are actually two parts of the same celebration. What is the difference between Mardi Gras and Carnival? To put that into perspective, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil is around 380 years old, while the Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations are about 325 years old. It’s an ancient celebration widely celebrated throughout Europe for over a thousand years. Mardi Gras and Carnival: who, what, when and why!Ĭarnival, as we know it today, is older than you think. We’ll also explore the origins: how Christianity and several ancient Pagan celebrations most likely influenced today’s party-like Carnival traditions.

Here’s a look at how Carnival and Mardi Gras in France are celebrated.

Saturnalia costume