They grow 'em smart out in Iowa, donyt they? ;)

here in Canada, fat tuesday is 2 for 1 big mac day at McDonalds !!

here in New Orleans prices go up.

Actually I was born in Chicago, but your point is still legit.

I'm a big dummy.





:D

Not being an American, I wouldnt know what this "fat tuesday" is, but anywho I am assuming its a day when u get a burger wif 2 kgs of fat for the price of 1kg :D haha I'm kidding. So what is it?

it's a New Orleans holiday.

Mardi Gras is the week leadin up to lent, so in New Orleans (and a few other places), every one goes all out and practices every form of debachery they can think of (EVERY form) in preparation for 40 days of absolution. it all ends on Ash Wednesday. Technically, it's all a big catholic thing, but those of us that arent catholic just go to dig ourelves into a deeper hole :D

that's not what it's about here.

well it sorta is and sorta isn't.

Back in slavery times the catholic slave owners would let the slaves do as they wish(with obvious limitation)for a few days and that's how Mardi Gras started here, it coincided with the week leading up to lent because that's the time catholic slave owners were letting themselves go for the reason you mentioned. Also as you mentioned Ash Wednesday is the end of the time the catholics had before lent so of course that's when the slaves fun ended as well. As time went on it just turned into a week and a half of boose,beads and boobs.

that's just here,I don't know about the other places that celebrate it. (I thought we were the only ones that made it a holiday)