In a word, yes.

Mardi gras is the last big fling before the somber Lenten season in the Christian calendar. The idea of Fat Tuesday, or Donut Tuesday as it is known in some areas, is to enjoy favotite sweets before traditionally giving them up for Lent.

Although she was very religious, my mother used Lent to control her weight...it was her diet season.

A kind of funny story about Donut Tuesday. One year, in the early morning hours of donut Tuesday, my 19 year old brother was hitch-hicking, and run over by a loaded 18-wheeler. Arm virtually severed, leg and chest crushed - very, very critical condition. I remember getting the call from parents before they left for the hospital, after getting call from police.
My elderly grandmother lived with them. During the day, as we delat with doctors, we would call home and just tell grandmom that Mike was hurt in an accident - she had a very bad heart, and we didn't need a hear attack that day.

Well, when we staggered back to the house that evening, with him still in iffy condidition after surgery...grandmom opens the door and says, with a big smile.."Did you bring home the donuts? It's Fat Tuesday".

It was like the last straw, we were jsut stunned.
We calmed Grandmom down just a little too much :)

BTW - Michael and all his limbs survived.

Thanks for the explanation Monica. Glad your brother turned out okay too.
Leslie