Mardi Gras in New Orleans, also known as Carnival, is a month-long celebration that begins on Jan. 6 and culminates with a grand celebration on March 4, also known as Fat Tuesday. Originating from French traditions, Mardi Gras has transformed into a festive event with parades, king cakes, and bead tossing. Originally a religious holiday, Mardi Gras now gives people the opportunity to over-indulge before the start of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting observed by Christians.
Fat Tuesday, falling on March 4 this year, is the last day of Carnival celebrations before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. It is a day of celebration where people use up fats in their homes before fasting. Mardi Gras festivities begin on Epiphany and continue until midnight on Fat Tuesday, with Easter Sunday following on April 20.
Outdoor celebrations on Fat Tuesday typically last until midnight, when partygoers are asked to leave the streets. Mardi Gras events and festivities can last between four to eight weeks, depending on the Christian liturgical calendar for that year. It is a time for people to come together, let loose, and enjoy the festive atmosphere before the solemn period of Lent begins.
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