Origins: Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” refers to the day before Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent in the Christian calendar—a 40-day period of fasting, penance, and reflection leading up to Easter. The name comes from the tradition of indulging in rich, fatty foods (especially meat) one last time before the Lenten restrictions begin.

The celebration is part of the broader pre-Lenten festival known as Carnival (from Latin “carne vale,” meaning “farewell to meat”), observed in many Catholic cultures worldwide.

Ancient and Pagan Roots

The origins of Mardi Gras and Carnival-like festivities trace back thousands of years to ancient pagan traditions. These included Roman festivals celebrating spring, fertility, and renewal, such as:

•  Saturnalia — a winter festival honoring Saturn (god of agriculture), featuring feasting, gift-giving, role reversals, and revelry.

•  Lupercalia — a mid-February fertility rite involving purification, feasting, and chaotic celebrations.

These events featured excess, masquerading, parades, and indulgence to welcome seasonal change. When Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, church leaders often incorporated popular local customs rather than fully suppressing them. The raucous pre-Lenten indulgence evolved as a way to “use up” forbidden foods and enjoy one final period of excess before the austerity of Lent.

While some historians debate direct pagan continuity (suggesting it may partly stem from medieval Christian extensions of Christmas festivities or simply practical food-consumption customs), the link to ancient fertility and spring rites is widely accepted as an influence.

Medieval and European Development

By the Middle Ages, pre-Lenten celebrations had become established in Europe, particularly in Catholic regions:

•  In France, Italy (e.g., Venice), and other areas, masked balls, street festivities, and feasting were common.

•  The tradition passed through Rome and Venice in the 17th–18th centuries and was influenced by the French House of Bourbons.

Arrival in North America and the United States

Mardi Gras arrived in what is now the United States via French explorers and settlers:

•  In 1699, French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville (along with his brother Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville) landed near the mouth of the Mississippi River on the eve of Mardi Gras. They named the spot Pointe du Mardi Gras (“Mardi Gras Point”).

•  The first organized Mardi Gras celebration in what became the U.S. occurred in 1703 in Mobile, Alabama (then the capital of French Louisiana), predating New Orleans.

•  New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Bienville. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated there with masked balls and street festivities, though large parades developed later.

•  The modern American-style Mardi Gras—with elaborate parades, krewes (social organizations), floats, and throws—emerged in the mid-19th century. The Mistick Krewe of Comus (formed in 1857) introduced themed parades and formalized many traditions still seen today.

Over time, New Orleans’ celebrations incorporated multicultural influences, including French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Native American elements, making it the most famous Mardi Gras in the world. However, the holiday’s roots are much older and broader than any single city or country.

Today, Mardi Gras remains a vibrant blend of religious observance, cultural tradition, and festive excess in places like New Orleans, Mobile, Rio de Janeiro (Carnival), Venice, and beyond.