Why is it called Fat Tuesday?
The name “Fat Tuesday” refers to the practice of consuming all of the food forbidden while fasting during Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Why do we celebrate Fat Tuesday? It’s called Fat Tuesday because it’s the last day that many people eat meat and fatty foods before Lent begins.
Perhaps your familiar with its’ French derivation, Mardi Gras.
While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of traditionally ethnic French cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century.
The festival season varies from city to city, as some traditions, such as the one in New Orleans, Louisiana, consider Mardi Gras to stretch the entire period from Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas which begins Epiphany) to Ash Wednesday. Others treat the final three-day period before Ash Wednesday as the Mardi Gras.
Sources: bing.com and en.wikipedia.org
On Fat Tuesday it’s eat drink and be merry for the next day we fast! (If Catholic).
