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Fat Tuesday is your last hurrah, folks, so let the carbo loading begin. Fat Tuesday will give way to a more solemn occasion – Ash Wednesday – and then a 40-day period of self-sacrifice known as Lent.
Fat Tuesday, the English translation of the French “Mardi Gras,” signals the official end of Carnival season, billed as a hedonistic frenzy of food, booze, parades, masked celebrations and things that can’t be printed in a family newspaper.
Fat Tuesday is kind of like a hangover helper – and a way to get ready for what lies ahead.
The day is marked by one final food frenzy, much of it revolving around carbohydrates such as pancakes and deep-fried delights such as doughnuts. Why? Some say the tradition dates back to a time when refrigeration was non-existent and all the goodies in the home had to be eaten because they wouldn’t survive Lent. They would probably also be an unnecessary temptation.
The food frenzy also offers a final opportunity to indulge in rich, fatty favorites before Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Pancakes are favored because they make good use of perishables such as eggs. In Britain, contestants in pancake races run a foot race while flipping a pancake in a skillet.
For Catholics and other Christians, Ash Wednesday symbolizes the start of the 40 days Jesus spent praying and fasting in the desert, resisting temptation, before his crucifixion.
The period ends with the most significant day on the Christian calendar – Easter.
On Ash Wednesday, many Christians wear a cross on their foreheads made of ashes, a sign that the bearer is in the process of renewing and rededicating his or her faith, according to American Catholic’s online site.

Fat Tuesday.

The countdown is on to Fat Tuesday. Thousands of South Mississippi residents will be celebrating at Mardi Gras parades.
The biggest celebration is in downtown Biloxi, where the Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade rolls at one o’clock.
By Monday morning, there were already plenty of RVs and campers lining portions of the parade route.
More than 10.000 barricades are in place along the parade route in Biloxi, along with more than ten thousand feet of caution tape.
“We are setting up and getting ready for the Mardi Gras parade” – said a smiling Joseph Barber.
His family pitched their tents in a vacant lot along Main Street. Fat Tuesday is a family affair for these folks from Pascagoula.
“I’ve got my kids, grand kids, friends, nephew, my daughter in law. We’re all out here gonna have fun” – he said.
A preview of that Mari Gras fun rolled through downtown Biloxi Monday morning. The annual children’s parade gave folks a preview of the festivities that will follow on Fat Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s going to be very, very busy and a lot of fun” – said Sharon Beasley.
We found her busy transforming the Boomtown Casino welcome center into Mardi Gras headquarters. She’s helping decorate for a purple, green and gold celebration.
“It’s an invitation only for our VIP’s at Boomtown. The bleachers will be decorated. The tent will be decorated. They’ll have food and drinks and prizes and all sorts of things” – she said.
Plenty of retailers are stocking up their soft drink and beer coolers on this Lundi Gras.
That’s why on Fat Tuesday, so many parade goers will want to know the location of the dozens of Port-a-Potties strategically placed along the parade route.
The portable toilets, bleachers and barricades are all in place. Add about 75.000 people and you’re ready for one thing – Happy Mardi Gras!

Fat Tuesday is only a day away, and if you can’t make it to New Orleans to celebrate, there are many events to check out around Chicago tomorrow.
Cactus Bar and Grill, 404 S Wells, is hosting a crawfish eating contest to benefit Habitat for Humanity New Orleans on Fat Tuesday. The event is free to attend and 25 dollars to enter. Contestants will attempt to eat 3 pounds of crawfish. The restaurant will also offer food and drink specials as well as free Mardi Gras accessories.
Carnivale will be hosted at 702 West Fulton Market at 7:00 p.m. The Fat Tuesday event will feature live music from Luciano Antonio and Planeta Azul, Passistas, samba dancers, a stilt walker, food and drink specials and a fire breather.
Crossroads at House of Blues Chicago, at 329 N Dearborn, is featuring a four course menu of Cajun and Creole favorites from 6 – 8 p.m. and live music performed by Marty Sammon and The New Mambo Kings. Today The Reader is offering a Reader Real Deal of 40 dollars for this 80 dollars event.
Duffy’s Tavern & Grill, 420,5 Diversy, will offer a 20 dollars Fat Tuesday party package that includes a New Orleans style buffet, Hurricanes and all draft beers. Hurricane Gumbo will be performing.
Durkin’s, 810 Diversy, will be offering $20 Bayou buffet, hurricanes and domestic drafts from 8 – 11 p.m.
The Fat Cat, 4840 N Broadway, is serving up a traditional Cajun buffet including crawfish boil, jambalaya, po’ boys, and king cakes for $9.95. Other specials include $4 Abita beers and 6 dollars Hurricanes.
Fizz Chicago, 3220 N Lincoln, will showcase live music from BS Brass Band as well as a Cajun menu and Hurricane and Abita beer specials in honor of Fat Tuesday.
Moonshine Brewing Company, 1824 W Division, will feature a crawfish boil ($7 per half pound basket or $12 per pound) and fresh gumbo ($3 per cup $5 per pound). 6 dollars Hurricanes will also be available.
Moe’s Cantina, 155 W Kinzie, is offering food and drink specials such as Andouille sausage and Chihuahua cheese quesadillas for 8 dollars, Creole-style chicken, shrimp and Andouille sausage jambalaya for 5 dollars and Hurricanes for 6 dollars.
Shaw’s Crab House, 21 E Hubabrd St, will feature a performance by the Fabulous Fish Heads Blues Band from 7-10 p.m. New Orleans items such as crawfish po’ boys, blackened redfish, jambalaya, gumbo and more will be offered. Hurricanes and half-priced oysters will also be available.
The Southern, 1840 W North, will feature a Dixieland band and a low country boil for 10 dollars. Special edition Abita Oyster Stout and Dry Hopped Restoration Ale will also be featured.