Gauthier Delomez 6:14 p.m., February 21, 2023

Expected day of children and also adults, the "Mardi Gras" is an opportunity to taste pancakes, waffles or donuts.

It is this Tuesday, February 21 that everyone can feast, but besides, what is the origin of this celebration and why is it allowed to eat "fat"?

Europe 1 takes stock.

This Tuesday, February 21 is the last day before Lent.

And in the Christian tradition, it is "Mardi Gras".

A party adored by children, who like to dress up for the carnival and eat pancakes or donuts.

In fact, the origin of this day awaited by children - and also by adults - goes back to ancient Rome.

It is then a pagan festival intended to celebrate the arrival of spring and the Calends of March by transgressing certain prohibitions.

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The Christian religion then adopted it for feasting, dressing up and eating well.

"It's the day when we sell off all the fat we have in our cupboards before the 40 days of fasting and Easter", underlines Marion Sauveur, culinary columnist for Europe 1. "All fats, butter, oil, eggs and flour had to be used, and that's how carnival donuts were born."

Carnival donuts, a Mardi Gras must-have

Each year, the date of Mardi Gras changes since it falls 47 days before Easter.

This feast day is celebrated all over the world today, including in Anglo-Saxon countries.

In France, the carnival of Dunkirk lives its "three joys" which conclude on the day of Mardi Gras.

Like Candlemas, pancakes are one of the must-have dishes.

It is also traditional to taste waffles, or donuts specially dedicated to this celebration.

"The carnival donut is a derivative of choux pastry: it is water, salt, butter that is brought to a boil", specifies at the microphone of Europe 1 the pastry chef François Larrezet, who shares his simple tips for making these donuts.

So there's no excuse not to taste it this Tuesday.