10. Carnival—began in 1162 in Venice to commemorate the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday… M A R D I G R A S ! Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) celebrates a day of total feasting before giving up meat for Ash Wednesday and Lent (religious holidays). The Venetian Carnival runs from the end of January right up to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In 2008, the carnival is January 25 th through February 5 th .