NEW ORLEANS CREOLE GUMBO
In 2026 Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a festive carnival day, the final celebration before the Christian fasting season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, marked by parades, costumes, music, and indulgence in rich foods. Originating from ancient pagan rites and brought to the U.S. by French settlers, it’s most famously celebrated in New Orleans with colorful parades, king cakes, and beads, but is a worldwide phenomenon in Catholic-majority countries.
