How Many Days Until Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras 2026 is on Fat Tuesday, Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
About Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)
Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday," refers to the festive events of the Carnival celebration season, culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. It's a time of revelry, feasting, parades, and music before the penitential season of Lent begins. While celebrated worldwide, Mardi Gras is most famously associated with New Orleans, Louisiana.
Origins: From Pagan Roots to Christian Feast
Mardi Gras traditions blend ancient pagan spring and fertility rites with Christian pre-Lenten customs.
Ancient Festivals
Roots trace back to Roman festivals like Saturnalia and Lupercalia, involving feasting, masks, and temporary suspension of social norms.
Christian Adaptation
The Church adapted these traditions as a final period of celebration ("Carnival" - farewell to meat) before the fasting and austerity of Lent.
French Influence
The tradition arrived in North America with French explorers. The name "Mardi Gras" specifically refers to the final Tuesday feast before Lenten fasting.
"Fat Tuesday"
Refers to the practice of eating richer, fatty foods (meat, eggs, dairy) before the Lenten fast begins on Ash Wednesday.
Key Mardi Gras Traditions
Mardi Gras is known for its vibrant and unique customs:
- Parades (Krewes): Organized social clubs ("krewes") stage elaborate parades with themed floats, marching bands, and costumed riders.
- Throws: Krewe members throw trinkets to the crowds, most famously colorful plastic beads, but also doubloons (coins), cups, and small toys. Shouting "Throw me something, Mister!" is common.
- Masks and Costumes: Masks are traditionally worn, allowing for anonymity and social mixing. Elaborate costumes are common, especially on Mardi Gras day.
- Colors: Purple, Green, and Gold: Chosen in 1872 by the Krewe of Rex, representing justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold).
- King Cake: A ring-shaped cake, often decorated in Mardi Gras colors, containing a hidden plastic baby. Finding the baby traditionally means good luck and the responsibility of hosting the next party or buying the next cake.
- Music: Jazz, brass bands, and zydeco music are integral to the celebration, especially in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
New Orleans is synonymous with Mardi Gras, hosting the largest and most famous celebration in the United States. The season officially begins on Epiphany (January 6th) and builds momentum until Fat Tuesday.
Krewe Royalty
Many krewes elect a King and Queen who preside over parades and balls.
Formal Balls
Older, more traditional krewes host elaborate, invitation-only balls during the Carnival season.
Street Parties
Especially in the French Quarter (Bourbon Street), large crowds gather for spontaneous celebrations, music, and revelry.
Parade Schedule
Dozens of parades roll through different parts of the city in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, culminating in major parades like Rex and Zulu on the final day.