Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is traditionally a time of colourful celebration before 40 days of Lent. Get your kids involved with our Mardi Gras crafts, printables, colouring pages and other fun activities!

What is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, and even Pancake Day in the UK, is an annual festival which will next be celebrated on 12th February in 2013. Falling just before Lent, it traditionally marks the last opportunity for fun and feasting before 40 days of "self-denial". Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French.

Festivities begin at the beginning of February, leading up to Mardi Gras day, and consist of parades, dancing in the street, costumes and masked balls. The modern Carnival tradition developed in Europe in the Middle ages, and is celebrated mainly in Roman Catholic communities in Europe and the Americas today. Some of the most famous celebrations are held in Nice (France), Cologne (Germany), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and New Orleans (USA)