1. MARDI GRAS LE CARNAVAL LE MERCREDI DES CENDRES LE CARÊME By Genevieve Rivard Period 3

2. WHAT ARE THEY? Mardi Gras et Le Carnaval Mardi Gras, also known as Le Carnaval and Fat Tuesday, is a day of celebration and feast before the start of Lent. It is a Christian holiday that is known for some of its largest festivities in New Orleans, Venice, and Brazil. Le Mercredi des Cendres Also known as Ash Wednesday, Le Mercredi des Cendres is a Christian holiday marking the first day of Lent. Le Carême Le Carême, or Lent, is a period of 40 days of fasting that occurs from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday.

3. HISTORY & TRADITIONS Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders meshed it with Lent, making its celebration a day of feasting before the period of fasting. A traditional food associated with Mardi Gras is the king cake. This cake is often served with a purple, yellow, and green glaze as well as a plastic toy baked inside.  Whoever gets the slice of cake with the toy inside is the king for the day and must serve the next king cake.