Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French. What is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, and even Pancake Day in the UK, is an annual festival which will be celebrated on 16th February in 20XX. 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.

Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world.  Some of the most famous celebrations are held in Nice (France), Cologne (Germany), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and New Orleans (USA)Binche in Belgium and Viareggio in Italy are just a few examples.   The Tuesday that Mardi Gras falls on is also known as Shrove Tuesday.  The name comes from the custom of confessing on the day before lent.  Shrove means "to be forgiven one's sins."

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday".  The name comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through Paris on this day.  The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent.  Lent runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter Sunday. Mardi Gras moves.  It can be anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th.  The date depends on when Easter falls. French people who came to the United States brought the custom of Mardi Gras with them.  The most famous festival in the US (and perhaps the world) is at New Orleans in Louisiana.

During the parade, everyone dresses up in costumes During the parade, everyone dresses up in costumes.  Trinkets, especially beads and doubloons, are tossed to the crowds from the parade floats. Watch the two clips on mardi gras in New Orleans!!!!

In Southern Italy, people dress up in costumes and put on an ancient play during Mardi Gras. In Rio de Janeiro, people dance in the streets In Nice, France people wear giant masks in the Mardi Gras parade. (it looks like a bunch of walking heads with tiny bodies).

In Binche, Belgium people dress in colorful clown costumes (the clowns are called gilles). The clowns wear bunches of ostrich feathers on their heads and dance in the streets.  They carry baskets of oranges which they throw to the watching crowds.

Mardi Gras is all about green, purple, gold, sparkle, beads, masks and noise! --------symbolises FAITH GOLD! --------symbolises POWER! PURPLE! --------symbolises JUSTICE!

Mardi gras masks! -Cut out a basic mask shape. -Draw your own, or use our templates. -use coloured (preferably purple, gold or green) card, or white card -add colour, sequins, beads, ribbons, glitter, feathers etc to decorate -Using a hole punch, punch two holes at each end and cut string or elastic to fit. -decorate your mask to be really "over the top" and fancy!

Some ideas