No matter what you call it — Carnival, Mardi Gras, Martedi Grasso, Carnaval, or Fastan, Fastnicht or Carnivale — the fun is serious, and the reason is the same. It offers one last chance to eat, drink and let loose before the austere and somber season of Lent carries away the good times with its need for penitence.
No matter where you find yourself, no matter how you celebrate, just be sure you do celebrate!
Here are some of the best places for parades during Mardi Gras season:
1. Quebec City
Winter Carnival in Quebec is impressive, historic, wonderful and special. But it is cold! However, the parades are spectacular, the food is abundant, and the drink flows. Shrove Tuesday is known as Pancake Day in most of Canada, but is also celebrated as Mardi Gras in French Quebec. Bonhomme, a giant snowman, is the “spirit” of the carnival, which usually is held in conjunction with Shrove Tuesday.