11 Deliciously Decadent Carnival Traditions

Nothing says “feast” like “impending quick.” Each February and March, in preparation for a month-plus of abstention and prayer for Lent, Catholics and Jap Orthodox Christians from Brazil to Poland get their fleshly wishes out of their programs in carnivals showcasing dancing, dress-up, and scrumptious meals. 

The names of those celebrations say all of it: Butter Week in Russia; Mardi Gras, or “Fats Tuesday” in New Orleans; Malasada Tuesday, named for eggy, stuffed malasada donuts, in Hawai’i. Although many churchgoers heartily approve of Butelo e Casulas, a wealthy smoked sausage served with inexperienced beans earlier than Lent in Northeastern Portugal, and graffe, a sugar-coated ring donut fried for Carnival in Naples, Italy, your heart specialist most actually wouldn’t.

Whereas carnivals supply a psychological reprieve for revelers, they traditionally provided a sensible function for a lot of cooks who cleaned their pantries of soon-to-be rejected dairies, meats, and sugars, changing them into donuts, pancakes, cookies, and desserts, together with savory dishes. 

Many of those treats, like Pennsylvania’s fasnacht potato donuts, have developed from pre-Lenten favorites to year-round indulgences. Whether or not you’re trying to find a solution to put together for a month of self-denial or simply jonesing for a snack of godly proportions, we invite you to feast on these carnival festivals and delicacies.