French Vocabulary Related to Mardi Gras

Mardi gras is an annual celebration called le mardi gras (literally, "fat Tuesday") or le carnaval in French.


Les dates de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras dates

Mardi gras takes place 46 days before Easter (le Pâques) - that is, sometime between 3 February and 9 March. Mardi gras is the day before Lent (le carême), which begins on Ash Wednesday (le mercredi des Cendres). The most famous Mardi gras celebration is held in New Orleans (la Nouvelle-Orléans), but many cities in Europe and South America also put on spectacular events.


Les couleurs de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras colors

Mardi gras has three official colors:

le violet   purple (justice)

l'or   gold (power)

le vert   green (faith)

More: Colors in French


Les traditions de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras traditions

Mardi gras is traditionally celebrated with a parade led by a captain, during which trinkets, or "throws," are tossed to the crowd. The parade is followed by a costume ball presided over by a king and queen.


Le vocabulaire de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras vocabulary

une babiole   trinket

un bal masqué   costume ball

un bijou   jewel

le capitaine   captain

un char   float

un collier   necklace

un costume   costume

le courir   Mardi gras run

une couronne   crown

un défilé   parade

un déguisement   disguise

un doublon   doubloon

une effigie   effigy

un feu de joie   bonfire

un flambeau   torch

la foule   crowd

un krewe   krewe (Mardi gras organizer)

un mardi gras   a person who really gets into celebrating Mardi gras

le masque   mask (make a Mardi gras mask)

une paillette   sequin

une perle   bead

la plume   feather

la reine   queen

le roi   king


Les expressions avec mardi gras ~ Expressions with Mardi gras

There are a couple of related French expressions with the phrase Mardi gras:

Ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui - Literally, "today isn't mardi gras"; this expression is used to make fun of someone who is wearing something ridiculous.

se croire à mardi gras - "to believe oneself (to be) at Mardi gras"; similar to the above, a way of mocking what someone is wearing: il se croit à mardi gras - he's dressed as if he's at Mardi gras, he's absurdly dressed


Le slogan de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras slogan

Mardi gras' slogan is "Let the Good Times Roll," which is translated into French as Laissez les bons temps rouler.