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MARDI GRAS

When is Mardi Gras in 2024?

Mardi Gras in 2024 is on the Tuesday, 13th of Feb (2/13/2024).

Mardi Gras is on the 44th day of 2024. There are 322 days left in the year.

Mardi Gras Facts

  • Date: Feb 13, 2024
  • Regional
  • Also Called: Shrove Tuesday
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; Parade, partying, baking, wearing masks
Mardi Gras iImage Credit: Wikipedia

Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, has its roots in Europe and came to North America as a French Catholic tradition. The festival is celebrated by Christians and marks the beginning of the lent season. Mardi Gras is a French name that means Fat Tuesday. It simply means the last day for Christians to indulge in all kinds of rich fatty foods in readiness for the fasting period of the lent season. The first recorded celebration was in 1703 in Mobile, Alabama.

When is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is on the last day before the Ash Wednesday begins. After the Mardi Gras Day, the lent season begins and lasts for 40 days. Mardi Gras often falls on any day between Tuesday, February 3rd, and Tuesday, March 9th.

Is Mardi Gras a public holiday?

Mardi Gras is a legal public holiday in Louisiana. The day was made a statutory public holiday in 1875 when Governor Warmoth signed the Mardi Gras Act. In Alabama, only the counties of Baldwin and Mobile recognize the day as a public holiday.

What is open or closed on Mardi Gras?

In Louisiana, government offices, banks, post offices, schools, and most businesses remain closed on Mardi Gras. The public transport is also likely to be affected and thus run on a holiday timetable. The counties of Baldwin and Mobile in Alabama follow the schedules of a public holiday. In other states, Mardi Gras is a typical working day for the general public.

Things to do on Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is not a holiday for Christians only. The holiday is packed with a variety of programs and activities suitable for people of all religions.

Parades are organized in New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as Mobile and Baldwin, Alabama. In Orleans, the parade is marked with masquerades, wild parties, and street dancing. People dress in colorful costumes and then throw trinkets to crowds as part of a customary parade throw.

At home, you can have a feast with friends where you indulge in all kinds of food before the lent and fasting season kicks off. Pancakes are a common Mardi Gras food due to its rich ingredients such as eggs, butter, and milk. While at it, you can play the popular King cake game.

Ideally, pecan or charm is hidden in a cake. The cake is then served, and the person who gets a piece with the charm is dubbed the king of that year’s Mardi Gras.

You could also mark this day by wearing masks. The mask tradition can be traced back to Europe when people would be allowed to behave the way they want before the lent season kicked off. However, it would be best if you were responsible and wary of ruining your reputation with the activities you decide to participate in.

Mardi Gras Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Tue
  • Feb 25, 2020
  • Tue
  • Feb 16, 2021
  • Tue
  • Mar 01, 2022
  • Tue
  • Feb 21, 2023

List of State Holidays of Alabama in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 16, 2023Jan 16Martin Luther King, Jr./Robert E. Lee Birthday
SaturdaySatFeb 04, 2023Feb 04Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day (Commemoration Only)
MondayMonFeb 20, 2023Feb 20George Washington/Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21Mardi Gras
MondayMonApr 24, 2023Apr 24Confederate Memorial Day
MondayMonMay 29, 2023May 29National Memorial Day
MondayMonJun 05, 2023Jun 05Jefferson Davis' Birthday
TuesdayTueJul 04, 2023Jul 04Fourth day of July (observed)
MondayMonSep 04, 2023Sep 04Labor Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Columbus Day / Fraternal Day / American Indian Heritage Day
SaturdaySatNov 11, 2023Nov 11Veterans Day
ThursdayThuNov 23, 2023Nov 23Thanksgiving Day
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 23, 2023Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day