You've probably seen the beads. You’ve definitely seen the king cake. But honestly, if you walk into a bakery in London or a village square in Venice and ask where the Mardi Gras party is, you might get a blank stare. People think Mardi Gras is just a New Orleans thing. It isn't. Not even close. Depending on where you are standing on the planet, another name for Mardi Gras could be anything from a pancake race to a literal "Fat Thursday."
The name we use in the States—Mardi Gras—is just French for "Fat Tuesday." It’s the final hurrah. The big blowout. It is the literal last chance to eat all the butter, lard, and sugar in the house before the solemnity of Lent kicks in on Ash Wednesday. Historically, this wasn't just about partying; it was a practical kitchen clearance. If you can't eat dairy for 40 days, you better use it up fast.
The British Connection: Why They Call it Shrove Tuesday
In the UK, Australia, and Canada, you’re more likely to hear the term Shrove Tuesday.
It sounds a bit dusty, doesn't it? "Shrove" comes from the word "shrive," which basically means to confess your sins and get absolution. While the French were getting "fat," the English were getting right with God. But don't let the religious name fool you. The Brits turned this into "Pancake Day."
Why pancakes? Because they are the ultimate "clean out the pantry" food. Flour, eggs, milk—everything that was traditionally forbidden during Lenten fasting. In places like Olney, England, they’ve been holding pancake races since 1445. Legend has it a housewife was so busy frying pancakes she heard the church bells, panicked, and ran to the service still clutching her frying pan.
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If you're looking for another name for Mardi Gras that involves literal athletic competition with breakfast food, Shrove Tuesday is your winner. It's less about the booze and more about the batter.
Carnival: The Global Heavyweight
Most of the world doesn't actually say Mardi Gras. They say Carnival. Or Carnevale. Or Carnaval.
Etymologically, this is kind of dark. Most scholars, including those at the Oxford English Dictionary, point to the Latin carne vale, which translates to "farewell to meat." It is a literal goodbye party for steaks and sausages.
In Brazil, Carnaval is a week-long explosion of samba. In Venice, it’s about the Martedì Grasso (the Italian version of Fat Tuesday) and those haunting, beautiful masks. The Venetian tradition actually started as a way to dissolve social classes. For a few days, a beggar could look like a prince behind a porcelain mask. It wasn't just a party; it was a subversion of the entire social order.
The "Fat" Variants You Didn't Know About
Not everyone waits until Tuesday to get started. In Poland and parts of Germany, the party starts early. They have Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek).
If you find yourself in Warsaw on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, you aren't looking for beads. You are looking for pączki. These are deep-fried donuts filled with rose jam or plum preserves. They are incredibly dense. They are delicious. And they are the primary reason people line up around the block at 6:00 AM.
Germany has a whole different vibe. They call it Karneval, Fasching, or Fastnacht, depending on which region you’re in. In the Rhineland, they celebrate Weiberfastnacht—Women’s Carnival Thursday. It’s a tradition where women "take over" the town hall and symbolically snip off men’s neckties. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s another name for Mardi Gras that focuses on a completely different power dynamic.
The Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras
If you head about two hours west of New Orleans into the rural prairies of Louisiana, the name stays the same but the event changes entirely. This is the Courir de Mardi Gras, or the "Mardi Gras Run."
Forget the floats. Forget the plastic beads.
This is an older, grittier tradition based on the medieval "fete de la quete." People dress in traditional fringed costumes and tall pointed hats called capuchons (designed to mock the nobility). They ride horses from house to house, singing and begging for ingredients for a communal gumbo. The "prize" at each stop? A live chicken. The participants have to chase the chicken through muddy fields to earn it for the pot.
It’s a reminder that this holiday has deep, agrarian roots. It was about community survival and shared resources before it became a tourism magnet.
Beyond the Name: Why These Variations Matter
We get hung up on the branding, but the search for another name for Mardi Gras reveals a universal human need. Every culture has a release valve. Before the "famine" (whether religious or seasonal), there must be a feast.
In Iceland, they call it Sprengidagur, which literally means "Bursting Day." The goal is to eat salted mutton and pea soup until you basically explode.
In Greece, they have Apokries. This season lasts three weeks and culminates in "Tsiknopempti," or Smoky Thursday, named for the smell of grilled meat filling the air.
- The common thread? Excess.
- The motivation? Upcoming restriction.
- The result? A massive boost in local economies and communal spirit.
Navigating the Dates
The trickiest part about finding another name for Mardi Gras is that the date moves. It’s tied to Easter, which is tied to the lunar cycle. Because it’s 47 days before Easter Sunday, it can fall anywhere between February 3 and March 9.
If you are planning a trip to experience these different names, you have to look at the liturgical calendar.
- New Orleans: Go for the two weeks leading up to Tuesday.
- Mobile, Alabama: (The actual birthplace of Mardi Gras in America—don't let a New Orleanian tell you otherwise) They call it the Feast of Foolishness or simply Carnival.
- Rio de Janeiro: Focus on the "Sambadrome" dates.
- Quebec: They call it Winter Carnival (Carnaval de Québec), and it’s more about snow sculptures and "Caribou" (a potent mix of red wine, whiskey, and maple syrup) than it is about heat and beads.
Common Misconceptions About the Holiday
People think Mardi Gras is a single day. In reality, in places like New Orleans, it’s a whole "season" starting on Epiphany (January 6).
Another big mistake? Thinking it’s all about nudity and debauchery. That’s mostly a byproduct of the Bourbon Street tourist trap. For locals in any country—whether they call it Fastenacht or Pancake Tuesday—it is a family-oriented tradition. It's about heritage. It’s about the specific way your grandmother made the king cake or the specific song your neighborhood "tribe" sings.
Expert Insights for Your Celebration
If you want to celebrate Mardi Gras under any of its names, do it authentically. Don't just buy a plastic mask.
In New Orleans, the "King Cake" contains a tiny plastic baby. If you find it, you have to buy the next cake. In Mexico, they have the Rosca de Reyes for Three Kings Day (the start of the season), which serves a similar purpose.
The nuance is in the food.
- England: Lemon and sugar on thin crêpe-style pancakes.
- Sweden: Semla buns—cardamom-spiced bread filled with almond paste and whipped cream. They call the day Fettisdagen.
- Pennsylvania Dutch country: Fasnachts—square potato donuts that are heavy enough to serve as doorstops.
Actionable Steps for the Season
If you're looking to dive into the spirit of another name for Mardi Gras this year, start by tracking the "Movable Feast" on your calendar.
First, identify which tradition resonates with you. If you like the idea of a quiet, cozy tradition, look into Shrove Tuesday recipes for authentic English pancakes. It’s a low-pressure way to mark the day.
Second, if you're a traveler, look beyond New Orleans. The Carnival in Mazatlán, Mexico, is the third-largest in the world but rarely gets the same press. The prices are lower, and the "another name" there is simply El Carnaval.
Third, understand the local laws. In many places, "Mardi Gras" is a legal holiday where banks and schools close. If you're heading to Mobile or New Orleans, don't expect to get any "real" business done on that Tuesday.
Finally, remember that the "Fat" in Fat Tuesday is literal. If you’re going to do it, do it right. Find a local bakery that specializes in the specific pastry of that culture—be it a pączki, a semla, or a king cake. The holiday is, and always has been, a celebration of the senses before the quiet sets in.
Check your local community centers or international societies. Often, Polish clubs or French alliances will host a "Fat Thursday" or "Mardi Gras" dinner that is far more authentic than anything you'll find at a generic bar. Use the specific name used by that culture when you search for events to find the real-deal celebrations.