MARDI GRAS

a popular US carnival (= public festival) held in New Orleans during the week before the first day of Lent . Mardi Gras is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’, because it ends on Shrove Tuesday, a day when people traditionally eat a lot before the start of Lent. People come from around the world to see the parades, costumes, parties and decorations and Mardi Gras ‘Kings’ and ‘Queens’ are chosen. A few other US cities celebrate Mardi Gras and it is also celebrated in some Catholic countries.