England
For many Protestants, Mardi Gras is known as Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the official beginning of Lent. As a solemn religious period, Lent traditionally incorporates periods of fasting during its 40 days, so the English ensured that their pancakes didn't go to waste prior to the holiday.
The Shrove Tuesday tradition of pancake-making, therefore, was an easy way for households to get rid of their dairy and sugar before fasting began. Today, pancake races are commonly held throughout England to celebrate the holiday, and we're seriously considering taking up the same tradition over here (preferably without the fasting afterward).
Russia
Russia takes the Protestant pancake tradition and puts its own spin on it. The Orthodox festival of Maslenitsa is characterized by the eating of blini, a cake more similar to crêpes than American pancakes. Their utility is even more useful than pancakes!
They can be stuff with meat, fish, or cream, using up even more off-limits ingredients than their U.K. counterparts. For a full week before Lent, folk festivals create numerous variations to be eaten by thousands of hungry Russian customers.
Italy
Mardi Gras in Venice is truly a unique experience, and it's no surprise that the sweet treats served during Carnival have just as much character. Known as frittelle, these scrumptious doughnuts come in all sorts of flavours; plain, custard-filled, chocolate-filled, nutty, and fruity — they're absolutely irresistible and quite hard to resist!
However, if you are craving these delicious deep-fried pastries after Mardi Gras festivities come to an end, you're out of luck. Visitors better get them while they can; once the season is over, these tasty treats won't reappear until the next Carnival celebration. So make sure to snap one up while you still can!
Denmark
Mardi Gras might be the main Carnival event worldwide, but in Denmark, Mardi Gras is second to Fastelavn as far as celebrations are concerned. The season focuses mostly on parades and children's activities, but there's one activity that Danes of all ages can participate in: the eating of Fastelavnsboller.
These puffy sweet buns are either coated in icing or sliced, opened, and filled with cream. You can't enter a Danish bakery between Christmas and Easter without catching a glimpse of these tasty treats.
United States
Mardi Gras is more than elaborate parades and colorful beads — it's also about the traditional king cake! This delicious treat has roots tracing back to French cakes celebrating Epiphany, representing the 3 magi visiting the baby Jesus. Mardi Gras' version is an eye-catching delight with its purple, green, and gold frosting. The best part (besides how good it tastes) is that a small baby figurine is hidden inside each slice.
If you're the lucky one who finds it, you must be prepared to host next year's Mardi Gras cake party! King cake sure does have a great set of expectations surrounding it that add an interesting twist to any Mardi Gras celebration. The American Mardi Gras version of the cake is traditionally a light, crusty roll covered in purple, green, and gold frosting while being stuffed with cream cheese or cinnamon filling.
Brazil
Mardi Gras in Brazil is no ordinary event! Between the parades, costumes, music, and dancing, one thing seems essential to get through this festive season: feijoada. This hearty stew of pork or beef and beans is a source of national pride for Brazilians and is popular all year round.
Not only does it provide much-needed energy, but this rich dish will also give Mardi Gras-goers the chance to indulge in a final feast before their Lenten ban on meat begins. All Mardi Gras revelers should make sure they have had plenty of feijoada while they can!
France
Mardi Gras often brings up images of beads, parties and a colorful array of parades. But one traditional Mardi Gras treat can be found in France during the Carnival period — bugnes! Also known as "angel wings" because of their shape, these delicious snacks are difficult to describe.
Imagine a combination between a funnel cake and fried doughnut without the hole and with a bit more crunch. Originating in Lyon and inspired by fasting recipes during Lent, the original bugne consisted of flour, salt, and water - before modern times brought us sweeter variations. So next Mardi Gras, take part in this French tradition by trying these delightfully tasty strips of dough!
Poland
The Polish tradition of Paczki Day is celebrated on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Like a dense jelly doughnut, these Polish pastries are filled with fruit filling and are a way of using up the dairy and sugar before the arrival of Lent.
Americans can get their paczki fix in the heavily Polish communities around Detroit and Chicago. Lines of people, hoping to grab one or two of these rich concoctions, stretch for blocks around small bakeries. Just be prepared to wait in lines if you're hoping to snag one—this Mardi Gras foodie frenzy is no joke!
Malta
By far, Malta has the best Carnival dessert. Basically, every amazingly sweet treat is compiled into a single cake: sponge, cream, chocolate, pine nuts, cherries, condensed milk, and citrus zest. There's even an adult version made with vermouth. If the normal size is too decadent for you, try a personal-sized dome of sugary goodness.
This dessert is an all-in-one, exponentially more delicious take on "death by chocolate" and no Maltese Mardi Gras feast would be complete without it. It's all sponge, creamy goodness, and chocolatey bits inside with crunchy pine nuts on top. A mini version is available too, so even those not ready to take on the full-size prinjolata still have a chance to revel in Mardis Gras glory - though its adult iteration made with vermouth definitely sweetens the deal for those of us who are a bit more daring.
Italy
Italy’s Mardi Gras is an experience like no other! It features Italy’s traditional food of choice: oranges. In Ivrea, just north of Turin, the oranges take on an even more prominent role as part of their annual ‘Battle of the Oranges’. The origins of this peculiar festival are shrouded in mystery with many stories emerging about its start; some suggest it is a representation of a 12th Century battle between Roman Emperor Barbarossa and the commoners.
Still, others maintain it was a revolt against a local lord who tried to starve the townspeople led by a miller’s daughter. One thing that unifies all stories, however, is their agreement over the theme — resistance against oppressive power. This theme is played out through Italy's unique Mardi Gras tradition!
