2.21.2012

TERÇA-FEIRA GORDA / QUARTA-FEIRA DE CINZAS

Shrove Tuesday (or Fat Tuesday) = Terça Feira Gorda = Mardi Gras

The terms "Mardi Gras", "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday (Quarta-feira de Cinzas). Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods (hence,.the Pancake Day, which uses the last supplies in the kitchen) before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday (also referred to as Shrove Tuesday), from the word shrive, meaning "confess." Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices include wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc.