why do people eat pancakes on mardi gras
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.
In countries such as England, Mardis Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, which is derived from the word shrive, meaning  confess .
Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Day) is a day in February or March, preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. This moveable festival is determined by Easter.