READING
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a famous celebration with a rich history. This lesson will help you learn about Mardi Gras traditions while improving your English reading and vocabulary.
📚 In this lesson, you will find:
✔️ A reading passage about Mardi Gras
✔️ Comprehension questions
✔️ A crossword puzzle
✔️ A vocabulary game
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It started as a religious celebration, but today, it is mostly a fun event enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.
The History of Mardi Gras
Many years ago, Catholics ate a lot of food on Fat Tuesday, often including King Cake, a sweet pastry still popular today. That was because the next day (Ash Wednesday) they started Lent. Lent is a 40-day period of fasting that represents the time Jesus spent in the desert, resisting temptation. Some people still give up things like red meat, alcohol, or social media during Lent.
Today, Mardi Gras is mostly a time for fun! People celebrate by going to parades, attending masquerade balls, and dressing in colorful outfits.
Where is Mardi Gras Celebrated?
While some bars in the U.S. decorate for Mardi Gras, the biggest celebrations happen in the Deep South.
- Mobile, Alabama – The first U.S. Mardi Gras was held here in the 1730s. The city is known for elegant parades and family-friendly events.
- New Orleans, Louisiana – Famous for its street parties, beads, and Bourbon Street celebrations.
- Venice, Italy – Known for its beautiful masquerade balls and elaborate masks.
- Brazil – Home to Carnaval, a world-famous festival with samba music and bright costumes.
Mardi Gras Colors and Traditions
Mardi Gras colors have special meanings:
- Purple – Justice
- Green – Faith
- Gold – Power
In Mobile, Alabama, the official Mardi Gras colors are only purple and gold. In New Orleans, Louisiana, the celebration also includes green along with purple and gold.
People decorate their homes, wear beads, and enjoy music, food, and dancing.
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📅 Mark Your Calendar!
In 2026, Fat Tuesday will fall on February 17. Parades in Mobile, Alabama, will begin on January 17.
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Want to learn more? Try this Mardi Gras history book!
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I hope you find this lesson useful. The Amazon links in this article are affiliate links. Were you to purchase something, a few cents will go towards supporting this site. Thank you!
Tell about the south 