- Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday are the same day, and they take place on March 4 in 2025.
- Mardi Gras marks the end of the pre-Lenten season.
- Fat Tuesday is a day of feasting before the fasting of Lent begins.
- Easter, the culmination of the Lenten season, will be celebrated on April 20, 2025.
It’s nearly time to celebrate Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday.
What separates Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday? Are they more than just parades, food and a reason to party?
Here’s what we know about the upcoming dates and more for Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Lent, Ash Wednesday and Easter:
When is Mardi Gras 2025? What is the day and date?
Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 4, in 2025.
When is Fat Tuesday 2025? Is it today?
Fat Tuesday is Tuesday, March 4, in 2025.
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is a celebratory day marking the close of the pre-Lenten season. It’s celebrated in France on Shrove Tuesday − which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday − according to brittanica.com.
What is Fat Tuesday? What is the meaning?
Fat Tuesday is a feast before fasting for the Lenten season begins, according to dynamiccatholic.com. The concept is to make it easier to fully engage in Lent and experience spiritual growth.
Fat Tuesday actually comes from its traditional name, Shrove Tuesday − where “shrove” means to give absolution to be forgiven. Shrove Tuesday is an invitation to:
- prepare for 40 days of spiritual renewal during Lent
- reflect on your life
- seek forgiveness and peace
Why do they call it Fat Tuesday?
Brittanica.com states Fat Tuesday means the same as the French name Mardi Gras − which comes from the custom of using all the fats in the home in preparation for abstinence and fasting ahead of the Lenten season.
What do Catholics eat on Fat Tuesday?
Foods traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday include:
- jambalaya
- king cake
- paczki
- pancakes
What is paczki?
Paczki is defined as “a traditional Polish doughnut, filled with jam or another sweet filling and covered with powdered sugar or icing,” according to dictionary.com.
How do you pronounce paczki?
Paczki is pronounced “Pawnch-kee,” according dictionary.com.
What is a king cake?
A traditional king cake is made of a rich brioche dough and has multiple filling options including chocolate, cinnamon and cream cheese capped by a glaze and colored sprinkles consisting of gold, green and purple, according to southernliving.com.
King cakes are baked without a center and have a small, plastic baby figurine in the middle. Each color has a meaning:
- Gold: represents power
- Green: associated with faith
- Purple: illustrates justice.
When is Easter 2025? What date is Easter Sunday this year?
Easter 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 20, for most Christians, predominantly Catholics and Protestants. Orthodox Christians will also celebrate on the same Sunday this year, according to the Greek City Times. This won’t happen again until 2028.
Why is Easter 2025 so late this year?
Easter runs late in 2025 due to the calendar system. On the Gregorian calendar, used by most Christian denominations, Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
When is Ash Wednesday 2025?
Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
When is Lent 2025? What date does the Lenten season start?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is March 5, 2025.
“Lent, kicking off with Ash Wednesday, is an incredible time of year that we as Christians dedicate to prayer, fasting, and giving as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Resurrection at Easter, ” Hallow CEO and co-founder Alex Jones said.
Hallow is “a prayer and meditation app that combines the peace and stillness of meditation with the spiritual growth of contemplative prayer,” according to hallow.com, and Jones said it’s popular during lent. “It’s always our biggest season at Hallow and we see it as a huge opportunity for folks to re-engage with their faith,” he said.
When is Palm Sunday 2025?
Palm Sunday is on Sunday, April 13, 2025, according to Time and Date.
When is Maundy Thursday 2025?
Maundy Thursday is Thursday, April 17, 2025, according to Time and Date.
When is Good Friday 2025 this year?
Good Friday is on April 18, 2025, according to Time and Date.
When is Good Friday 2025 this year?
Good Friday is on April 18, 2025, according to Time and Date.
Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.
