Carnaval or Mardi Gras• Carnaval is a Catholic celebration that occurs

before the start of Lent. Some people also refer to it as ‘Fat Tuesday’, Pancake Tuesday, or Mardi Gras (which is French for fat Tuesday).

• Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter, when Catholics would originally give up meat and other rich foods.

Carnaval or Mardi Gras

• Carnaval is celebrated in every country that has a large Catholic or Anglican population.

• It is also celebrated in most countries that have a large French/Italian/Spanish influence such as New Orleans, Quebec, Venice, Brazil, and many African countries as well

Carnaval or Mardi Gras• Carnaval or Fat Tuesday was the day before

that when they would be forced to consume all their goodies so they wouldn’t be tempted by them during Lent.

• Carnaval has become a huge celebration with parades, parties, costumes, masks, beads, and drinking

• The festival started in Italy and many believe that it started out as a festival for the God Saturn before being adopted by Christians.

Mardi Gras

Carnaval - Brazil

Carnaval - Venice

Carnaval in Africa

CarnavalQuebec

Les Masques

Une costume/deguisement

Masks of Carnaval:

Masks of Carnaval: