Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday," is Carnival's final day, occurring the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. The name signifies the tradition of indulging in rich, fatty foods on this last night before Lent's fasting season, during which such indulgences are forgone.
1960: Rise of Super Krewes in Mardi Gras
The 1960s and 1970s saw the emergence of large krewes known as "super krewes" in Mardi Gras parades. These krewes, including Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, and Rex, scheduled their parades for the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday.
1991: Ritual Disrobement at Mardi Gras
During Mardi Gras 1991, a study observed 1,200 instances of "ritual disrobement," where women exposed their breasts in exchange for beads or trinkets. This practice was linked to the increasing availability of voyeuristic videotapes.
2003: Carnival of Binche Recognized by UNESCO
In 2003, The Carnival of Binche, a three-day celebration in Belgium, was honored by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.