MAIN Home Life Holidays Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras & Carnival

Celebrations include lots of feasting, partying and parading on the big day just before Ash Wednesday - when the Church rules of fasting and sacrifice take effect in preparation for a joyous Easter.

It's been that way in Christian countries around the world since the Middle Ages. Today most of the world's celebrations occur during the week of Fat Tuesday, which in 2012 falls on Tuesday, February 21.

Get ready to party!

Party! Fat Tuesday in the USA

It's been seven long years since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and the biggest party town in America will pick itself up for the 2012 Fat Tuesday celebration with even bigger crowds - and more parades - expected this year.

The 2012 New Orleans Mardi Gras parade schedule kicks off on February 4, and continues through to Fat Tuesday on February 21.

Although many Americans often associate Fat Tuesday with New Orleans, it was actually Mobile, Alabama which originated the U.S. celebration while under French rule in 1703.

Today, the original home of Mardi Gras celebrates every year in Mobile with live music, floats, parades, traditional foods and thousands of spectators.

Meanwhile, across the country families and friends also gather to party at home or kick off neighborhood celebrations with colorful decorations, Mardi Gras beads, and lots of traditional New Orleans food specialties including shrimp jambalaya, spicy cajun shrimp, Mardi Gras King's Cake, and authentic New Orleans pralines.

Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Celebrations around the world

The biggest and loudest of them, as always, are in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans ...although the German Karneval, or Fasching, festivities in Cologne and Berlin get pretty wild, Carnaval in Nice shows off the wackier side of the trendy Riviera scene, and the Italians in Venice are the worldwide experts on the art of street theater.

More about Fat Tuesday Party Ideas around the Web

Around the Web, learn more about Mardi Gras and Carnival customs and history with suggestions for food and drink, traditional Fat Tuesday recipes, rollicking party ideas and decorating themes for hosting your own Fat Tuesday party celebration...

Mardi Gras.com - The #1 location for finding out more about this year's New Orleans celebration with the latest news and updates, parade maps and schedules, planning guide, recipes, history, e-cards, screensaver, photo galleries, video and sound clips, live webcam and lots more.

Mardi Gras New Orleans - Featuring everything you always wanted to know including related party ideas, history and tradition, official Mardi Gras colors, recipes for king cake and more, photo gallery and live webcam together with general New Orleans tourist attractions, current parade schedule, tour packages, and where to shop for beads and other party paraphernalia.

Mardi Gras Day - The parade schedule, bookable New Orleans hotel reservations, an online store, and featuring complete party ideas for adults, teens or kid's celebrations including recipes for Mardi Gras drinks, entrees, appetizers and desserts, plus instructions for making your own parade float.

Fat Tuesday - What's Cooking - The next best thing to being there, with a great collection of traditional Fat Tuesday recipes and party ideas including appetizers, main Cajun dishes, King's Cake and desserts.

Mardi Gras Recipes - The complete guide from TABASCO with complete instructions and ingredient lists for gumbo and jambalaya dishes, Cajun and Creole favorites, party cocktails and King Cake, plus check out how to's on party ideas & activities, a free Mardi Gras screen saver, and related feature stories.

Mardi Gras Party Ideas from Evite - Tips & how to's for putting together your own Fat Tuesday grand fete at home with recipes, a music list, advice on party decorations, costumes and activities.

Carnaval.com - An extensive directory to Mardi Gras and Carnaval worldwide including guides to New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Trinidad, London, New York, Toronto, Cologne and more cities worldwide with links to related history and happenings.

Nice Carnaval - Fun and frivolity on the French Riviera with details on this year's celebration themes, along with background info on the flower and carnival parades, general history and traditions. In English and French.

also see related features -> What is Mardi Gras Celebrating?

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