February 16, 2021 is Fat Tuesday, also known by such names as Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day or Mardi Gras. Traditionally the Christian liturgical calendar includes Lent, a roughly 40 day period of fasting and other rituals in preparation for Easter. Lent begins Ash Wednesday and many observe lent by giving up certain foods or luxuries. The final day before Lent begins, people will enjoy a final night of indulgence, often with a feast of rich, fatty and sweet foods, such as pancakes– hence the various names for the day. In many places, especially traditionally Catholic areas, an extended festival takes place, often over many days or weeks. The most famous examples of this include Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro,
