Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”. The name comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through Paris on this day. The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent. Lent runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter Sunday. Mardi Gras moves. It can be anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th. The date depends on when Easter falls. The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following: Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold stands for power. Make a King Cake Game & Dice. Try these delicious vegan versions of traditional New Orleans favorites like jambalaya and dirty rice.