Question: is carnival and mardi gras the same thing

Answer: Yes, Mardi Gras (/ˈmɑːrdi ˌɡrɑː/), also called Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, in English, refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for ``Fat Tuesday'', reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.