When Is Mardi Gras Celebrated Each Year
When Is Mardi Gras Celebrated Each Year. However, the Carnival season is much longer than just one day. The length of time carnival period depends on the date of Shrove Tuesday that year (the day before Ash Wednesday).
It is celebrated on the Tuesday before Lent because it's the last day on which Christians (especially Catholics) can eat rich, "fatty" foods and drink alcohol.
Mardi Gras is often celebrated by eating rich foods and meat—the kinds of thing that people give up for Lent.
The structure of New Orleans Mardi Gras largely revolves around the many, many parades that are held in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday. Each year, we celebrate Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday by attending parades, layering ornate beads, and slicing into colorful king cake. The length of time carnival period depends on the date of Shrove Tuesday that year (the day before Ash Wednesday).