These Mardi Gras trivia questions and answers cover the whole season: why the date moves with Easter, what the colors stand for, how the parades began in Mobile and New Orleans, and Carnival from Venice to Trinidad.
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Four rounds, from Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday
The Carnival calendar runs from January 6 to the Tuesday that falls 47 days before Easter. Colors, king cake and customs has throws, doubloons and the bean in a French king cake. Parades in Mobile and New Orleans goes from a cow's head on a cart in 1711 to the first Zulu king. Carnival around the world visits Rio, Venice, Cologne, Binche and Trinidad.
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Carnival around the world suits guests who know Pancake Day better than Fat Tuesday.
Questions and answers
Why is it called Fat Tuesday?
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It was the last day for eating rich, fatty foods before the fasting season of Lent, which begins the next day, Ash Wednesday.
What do the Mardi Gras colors mean?
Justice, faith and power. Rex, the New Orleans krewe whose monarch reigns as King of Carnival, established purple, green and gold as the official colors of Mardi Gras. The question is in Colors, king cake and customs.
When does Mardi Gras season start?
In New Orleans it starts on Twelfth Night, January 6, and lasts until midnight before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras itself is the last day, 47 days before Easter Sunday, so its date moves each year.
Where was the first Mardi Gras in the United States?
Mobile holds the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started in 1703 when the town was the capital of French Louisiana. An earlier Mardi Gras was marked on March 3, 1699, at a camp on the bank of the Mississippi River.
The "Shrove" of Shrove Tuesday comes from the old word shrive. What does shrive mean?Answer: To absolve after confession. Source: Wikipedia: Shrove Tuesday
Bolludagur, kept in Iceland on the Monday before Lent, is named after which treat?Answer: Cream buns. Source: Wikipedia: Bolludagur
The high point of the Cologne Carnival is Rose Monday. How many days before Ash Wednesday does it fall?Answer: Two. Source: Wikipedia: Cologne Carnival
In German-speaking Europe the Carnival season traditionally opens on which date?Answer: November 11. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival
In Germany one name for the day is Fastnacht. What does it mean?Answer: The eve of the fast. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras
In Iceland Shrove Tuesday is called Sprengidagur. What does the name mean?Answer: Bursting Day. Source: Wikipedia: Shrove Tuesday
In New Orleans the Carnival season opens on Twelfth Night. Which date is that?Answer: January 6. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
In Poland the big day for doughnuts is Fat Thursday. Which Thursday is it?Answer: The last Thursday before Lent. Source: Wikipedia: Fat Thursday
In the Czech Republic the festival is called Masopust. What does the name mean?Answer: Meat-fast. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras
The last Sunday before Ash Wednesday has a Latin name that refers to fifty days before Easter. What is it?Answer: Quinquagesima. Source: Wikipedia: Quinquagesima
Mardi Gras is the final day of which festive season?Answer: Carnival. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras
Maslenitsa is kept in Eastern Slavic countries during which week?Answer: The last week before Great Lent. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival
Shrove Tuesday comes a fixed number of days before Easter Sunday. How many?Answer: 47. Source: Wikipedia: Shrove Tuesday
Twelfth Night, which opens Carnival in New Orleans, is the last night of what?Answer: The Twelve Days of Christmas. Source: Wikipedia: Twelfth Night (holiday)
The word carnival is said to come from the Late Latin carne levare. What does that mean?Answer: Remove meat. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival
Colors, king cake and customs 15
A Mardi Gras doubloon is what kind of throw?Answer: A coin stamped with a krewe's emblem. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras throws
At a Mardi Gras parade, what is a "throw"?Answer: A trinket tossed from a float to the crowd. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras throws
The church bell rung on Shrove Tuesday to call people to confession, and to the frying pan, is known as what?Answer: The Shriving Bell. Source: Wikipedia: Shrove Tuesday
The custom of throws began in the early 1870s, when a rider with the Twelfth Night Revelers handed out gifts dressed as whom?Answer: Santa Claus. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras throws
Finish the shout that parade-goers call up to the floats: "Throw me something, ..."Answer: Mister. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras throws
The French galette des rois is a flaky puff pastry. What is it traditionally filled with?Answer: Frangipane. Source: Wikipedia: King cake
In early Mobile the feasting on Mardi Gras was called Boeuf Gras. What does that mean?Answer: Fatted ox. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
In the Courir de Mardi Gras of rural Louisiana, masked riders go from farm to farm gathering ingredients for what?Answer: A communal gumbo. Source: Wikipedia: Courir de Mardi Gras
Mobile keeps two traditional Carnival colors. Which two?Answer: Purple and gold. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
On Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, what happens to the laws against hiding your face behind a mask?Answer: They are suspended for the day. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Purple, green and gold are said to symbolize justice, faith and what?Answer: Power. Source: Wikipedia: Rex (krewe)
Shrovetide was a chance to use up which foods before the fast, which is why pancakes are eaten?Answer: Eggs, milk and butter. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras
The trinket hidden in a French king cake is called a fève. What does the word literally mean?Answer: Fava bean. Source: Wikipedia: King cake
The word krewe is thought to have been coined by which New Orleans group?Answer: The Mistick Krewe of Comus. Source: Wikipedia: Krewe
The Zulu parade is known for which hand-painted throw?Answer: Coconuts. Source: Wikipedia: Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
Parades in Mobile and New Orleans 15
After the Civil War, Joe Cain revived the parade tradition in Mobile. What did he ride in?Answer: A decorated charcoal wagon. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
The first Mardi Gras on record in Louisiana was marked on March 3, 1699, at a camp on the bank of which river?Answer: The Mississippi. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras
The first parade doubloons were shown to a krewe captain in January 1959 as a handful of discs. Which metal were they?Answer: Aluminum. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
In 1909 the first Zulu king carried a banana stalk as a scepter. What was his crown made from?Answer: A lard can. Source: Wikipedia: Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club
In 1979 the official parades in New Orleans were canceled or moved out of the city. Why?Answer: The police were on strike. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Michael Krafft started the Cowbellion de Rakin Society of Mobile with a parade of cowbells and which tools?Answer: Rakes and hoes. Source: Wikipedia: Cowbellion de Rakin Society
The Mistick Krewe of Comus is credited with bringing which two things to Mardi Gras in New Orleans?Answer: Torch-lit processions and themed floats. Source: Wikipedia: Mistick Krewe of Comus
Mobile's first known parade, in 1711, had 16 men pushing a cart that carried a large papier-mâché what?Answer: Cow's head. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
On Mardi Gras morning in New Orleans, which parade rolls first, ahead of Rex?Answer: Zulu. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Rex was organized in 1872 in part to honor the visit of a grand duke from which country?Answer: Russia. Source: Wikipedia: Rex (krewe)
Since which year has Mardi Gras been a legal state holiday in Louisiana?Answer: 1875. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
What does the mayor of New Orleans traditionally hand over to Rex for Mardi Gras Day?Answer: The key to the city. Source: Wikipedia: Rex (krewe)
When Mobile kept its first Mardi Gras in 1703, the town was the capital of which French colony?Answer: Louisiana. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
Which is the oldest continuously parading mystic society in Mobile, founded in 1867?Answer: The Order of Myths. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
Which krewe, the second oldest in New Orleans, has staged a masked ball on January 6 since 1870?Answer: The Twelfth Night Revelers. Source: Wikipedia: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Carnival around the world 15
A samba school is not a place for lessons. What is it?Answer: A neighborhood club that dances, marches and drums. Source: Wikipedia: Samba school
A Swedish semla is a cardamom bun filled with milk and almond paste. What goes on top?Answer: Whipped cream. Source: Wikipedia: Semla
At the Carnival of Binche in Belgium, what do the costumed Gilles throw to the crowd?Answer: Oranges. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival of Binche
At the Rio Carnival, what are the groups that parade in the Sambadrome known as?Answer: Samba schools. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival
The Carnival of Venice was abolished in 1797. In which year was the tradition revived?Answer: 1979. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival of Venice
Cologne's Carnival is led by a trio called the Dreigestirn: a prince, a peasant and who?Answer: A maiden. Source: Wikipedia: Cologne Carnival
The Colombina worn at the Carnival of Venice is what kind of mask?Answer: A half-mask over the eyes, nose and upper cheeks. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival of Venice
The Diablada Carnival takes place in Oruro, a city in which country?Answer: Bolivia. Source: Wikipedia: Carnival
In the Carnival of Trinidad and Tobago, what is "mas" short for?Answer: Masquerade. Source: Wikipedia: Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
In the pancake race at Olney, England, what does each runner carry?Answer: A frying pan. Source: Wikipedia: Shrove Tuesday
J'ouvert opens the two days of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. What does the name mean?Answer: Break of day. Source: Wikipedia: Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Pączki, eaten in Poland before Lent, are what kind of food?Answer: Filled doughnuts. Source: Wikipedia: Pączki
What is the typical greeting at the Cologne Carnival?Answer: Kölle Alaaf. Source: Wikipedia: Cologne Carnival
Which architect was commissioned in 1983 to design a permanent stadium for the Rio parades?Answer: Oscar Niemeyer. Source: Wikipedia: Rio Carnival
Which food do Russians bake for Maslenitsa?Answer: Blini. Source: Wikipedia: Maslenitsa
How this list was compiled
Written for this site; nothing was copied from another list. Every question, wrong choice and explanation is our own wording. Each answer agrees with a sentence in the English Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org) named and linked beside the question, read on 2026-10-02; every extra claim in an explanation was read on the same page. The rounds cover the Carnival calendar, the colors, king cake and other customs, the history of the parades in Mobile and New Orleans, and Carnival in other countries. Lent, Ash Wednesday and Easter are named plainly, as the dates the season is counted from. Left out on purpose: drinks, living people, crowd sizes, rankings and other figures that change by year, brand names, and the years on which the articles disagree (when the three colors were chosen, when Joe Cain first paraded). Facts the site's other packs already ask (what the three colors are, what the words Mardi Gras mean, what a king cake hides, which city kept the first Mardi Gras, where the steelpan comes from) were dropped or asked from another side, so no question here repeats one of theirs word for word as they stood on 2026-10-02. Levels are our estimate for a mixed table of adults and older children; each round is stored easiest first. Licence: own work