Mardi Gras – February 13th
When is Mardi Gras?
The fun holiday is on a different day every year, but always a Tuesday. While Mardi Gras and Carnival are the same celebrations, Mardi Gras is also referred to as Fat Tuesday. Why Fat Tuesday? The holiday is celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Type of Holiday?
In some U.S. states, it is an “official” holiday. It is the last day before lent in many churches.
How is Mardi Gras Celebrated?
Celebrated with a Carnival, the holiday can get a bit crazy when you are celebrating in New Orleans. During the week of the holiday, the city of New Orleans doubles in population. Cities around the world hold parties and parades for the festive occasion. While many people think of the event as a time to get drunk, that holds especially true if you are around the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Fun Mardi Gras Facts:
- Mardi Gras and Carnival are the same celebrations
- The official colors of the holiday are gold, purple, and green
- People wear masks, paint their faces and dress to celebrate
- Mardi Gras is actually a season. It begins with Epiphany, a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6 that is otherwise known as Three Kings Day or the Twelfth Day of Christmas
- While the holiday is celebrated in New Orleans, the first celebration took place in what is currently known as Alabama
- There have been 12 occasions where Mardi Gras was canceled, with Hurricane Katrina in 2006, resulting in a scaled down celebration of the event
- King Cake is the official cake of the holiday, with it only being available during the season of the holiday. King Cake is typically made with brioche dough. The dough is braided and laced with cinnamon, then glazed with purple, green and gold sugar or covered in icing of the same colors.
Celebrities who celebrate their birthday on February 13th:
- Peter Gabriel – Singer
- Prince Jackson – Michael Jackson’s Son
- Kim Novack – Actress
- Robbie Williams – Singer
- Stockard Channing – Actress
- Bess Truman – Former First Lady
- Tennessee Ford – Singer
- Jerry Springer – Talk Show Host
Popular Social Media Hashtags:
#mardigras2018 #fattuesday #neworleans #mardigras
February is filled with a variety of holidays including Elmo’s Birthday, Stuffed Mushroom Day, National Wear Red Day and let’s not forget World Nutella Day. We have you covered whether you are looking for a holiday in a specific month or industry – Special Days of the Month is your go-to place.