When is Fat Tuesday? What to know about the last day of Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, also known as Carnival, has been in full swing since Jan. 6 and will close with a grand, final celebration on March 4, better known as Fat Tuesday.

Originating from French traditions, the annual carnival celebration that began in Louisiana during the 1700s has transformed into a month-long event. The festivities include parades throughout the historic French Quarter, as revelers eat king cakes and toss green, purple, and gold beads into the crowd.

Mardi Gras, which began as a religious holiday, has become a weeks-long celebration, one that gives millions the opportunity to let loose and over-indulge before Lent, a 40-day season of prayer and fasting observed by Christians.

Although it is most notably celebrated in New Orleans, there are also big celebrations throughout the state of Louisiana and in cities throughout Mississippi, Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Many historians and researchers actually credit Mobile, Alabama with starting the party in the U.S.

Here's what to know about Fat Tuesday, including which Tuesday it will fall on this year.

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When is Fat Tuesday this year?

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, falls on March 4 this year and gives people one last night to party before the official start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

What is Fat Tuesday?

Mardi Gras is the last and "biggest day of celebration," according to Mardi Gras New Orleans.

Carnival celebrations begin on "Twelfth Night," also known as the Epiphany, which falls on Monday, January 6. The festivities gain momentum and continue until midnight on Fat Tuesday, the final day of the Carnival season, which is March 4 this year. Fat Tuesday also precedes Ash Wednesday, marking the first day of Lent, a period that lasts for forty days. Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 20.

Historically, people celebrate Fat Tuesday by using up all the fats in their homes in preparation for Lent, which is a time of fasting and abstinence. Christians would eat rich, fatty foods such as meat, eggs, and cheese before entering the season of Lenten fasting.

How is Fat Tuesday celebrated?

Outdoor celebrations typically last until midnight on Mardi Gras day, or Fat Tuesday, until partygoers are "asked to clear off the street," according to the French Quarter official website.

Mardi Gras-themed events and celebrations can last anywhere between four to eight weeks, depending on the year's Christian liturgical calendar, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Contributing: Anthony Robledo and Olivia Munson, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Fat Tuesday in 2025? More on Mardi Gras and its traditions