Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the fasting season of Lent. Mardi means “Tuesday” and Gras means “fat” in French. It marks the end of the Carnival season and the start of Lent. It's a time of indulgence and revelry before the more somber period of Lent, where some Christians abstain from certain pleasures. Mardi Gras is characterized by parades, costumes, music, and feasting, particularly in regions like New Orleans, Louisiana.