Carnival: A Meat-Free Tradition
The surprising origin of the word—and the long-standing practice of giving up animal products
This article unpacks the surprising origins of the word carnival, tracing it back to a time when it meant abstaining from all animal products during the period before Easter.
All of the articles in this series can be found here: The Food History of Easter and Passover—Through a Plant-Based Lens
The Meatless Roots of Carnival
When you hear the word carnival, you probably think of parades, masks, music, and indulgence. But hidden in the name itself is a deeper, older story—one that goes back centuries and begins with the Latin root carn, meaning "meat" or "flesh," as in the word carnivore.
The word carnival today generally means some kind of show or display arranged as an amusement, or a traveling fair with rides, games, and food. We may also think of it as a festive occasion or period marked by merrymaking and processions.
More specifically, for those who observe Roman Catholic traditions, it’s the period just before Lent. Carnival celebrations are featured all over the world during this time, the most famous of which in the United States is in New Orleans and more commonly referred to as Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday” in French). Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a time of prayer and fasting. (Read The Meatless History of Lent.)
The name "Fat Tuesday" comes from the tradition of using up all the rich, fatty foods—like meat, butter, and eggs—before the fasting period began. It was the last chance to feast before forty days of restraint.
And that’s exactly what leads us to the origins of the word itself.
From Feasting to Fasting
The English word carnival first appeared in writing in the late 1540s, but its roots reach back to a much older Latin phrase: carnem levāre (or in Italian, carne levare), meaning “to remove meat.” In essence, it referred to the act of putting away flesh—as in animal flesh—for the fasting period of Lent.
In the Christian tradition, Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and penitence observed in preparation for Easter. In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Easter.
The reason carne levare — the “removing of meat” — was marked out as a phrase to denote the time before Lent is because, during the Middle Ages, the consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs was forbidden during Lent. Over time, dispensations (exceptions) were granted — dairy eventually became acceptable, and later, eggs as well.
Originally, Catholics were to abstain from consuming animal flesh every Friday throughout the year, though exceptions were made for special occasions like weddings. By the time I was growing up Catholic, we only had to abstain on Fridays — and eating fish was acceptable. Even animal fat in liquid form — like chicken broth — was permitted.
But that original tradition of abstaining from meat during Lent remains embedded in the word carnival. Because Lent was a period of fasting, Carnival represented a last period of feasting and celebration before the spiritual rigors of Lent.
The Words Made Flesh
The root of the word carnival is the Latin word for flesh—carn—and in this context, it clearly refers to animal flesh, not human flesh, as seen in many other familiar words that also share the carn- root:
Carnivore – flesh-eating animals
Carnitine – a compound naturally produced in the body and consumed when eating animal flesh; L-carnitine is an amino acid found in meat and required by carnivorous animals.
Carrion – the decaying flesh of animals, as in a vulture eating carrion
Carnitas – a Mexican meat-based dish meaning “little meats”
Chili con carne – a spicy meat- and bean-based stew literally meaning “chiles with meat”
Charcuterie – from French, meaning “cooked meat”
There are also words with the carn- root that refer to human flesh or physical embodiment:
Carnal – relating to the body or physical appetites, especially sexual ones (“carnal desires”)
Incarnate – to be invested with bodily nature or embodied in human form (e.g., “evil incarnate”)
Reincarnation – the rebirth of the soul in another human or nonhuman body
Charnel – an archaic term meaning a repository for bones or bodies of the dead (a “charnel house”)
Carnage – mass slaughter or massacre, usually of people, though sometimes used for animals. Interestingly, carnage in English came from the French word meaning “a piece of meat used as bait.”
But deep in the roots of our modern word carnival is this idea of putting away the consumption of animal flesh as food. That’s what it originally marked — and maybe it’s a tradition worth remembering.
May we enjoy carnivals every single day — just with a little less carnage and a lot more compassion.
I hope you enjoyed this article! While it’s enjoyable on its own, it can also be consumed as part of a special spring series exploring our attachment to food rituals and traditions—especially those tied to Easter and Passover.
All of the articles and recipes in this series can be found here: The Food History of Easter and Passover—Through a Plant-Based Lens. Thanks for reading and sharing!!
Also in this series:
The Meatless History of Lent: The tradition of abstaining from animal products during the 40 days before Easter
Homemade Soft Pretzels: Delicious and historical!
Tempura: The Plant-Based Origins of Japan's Favorite Fried Dish: What Lent, Language, and Latin Have to Do with Tempura
Celebrating Easter Without Eggs: What better way to celebrate these ideals than by choosing objects that don’t just represent life and hope—but truly embody them?
How a Plant-Based Seder Celebrates the True Meaning of Passover
The Sacred History of Pretzels: The Plant-Based Origins of Everyone's Favorite Snack
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