Dijous Gras, also known in Catalan as Dijous Llarder, is one of the most popular gateways into the Carnival season. It is celebrated on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and is often described in English as Fat Thursday.
Its traditional meaning is easy to understand: before entering Lent, a period of sobriety and preparation for Easter, communities enjoyed several days of abundance. This is the origin of the rich meals, communal gatherings and dishes made with eggs, pork and other hearty ingredients.
When is Dijous Gras celebrated?
Dijous Gras is celebrated six days before Ash Wednesday. In 2027, Ash Wednesday will fall on February 10, which means that Dijous Gras will be celebrated on February 4, 2027.
The date changes every year because it depends on Easter Sunday. When Easter moves, the dates of Carnival, Ash Wednesday, Lent and Holy Week move with it.
Why is it called Fat Thursday?
The name Fat Thursday refers to the rich and abundant foods that were traditionally eaten before the beginning of a period associated with fasting, abstinence from meat and a more modest diet.
In Catalonia, the names Dijous Gras and Dijous Llarder are also connected with fat, lard and pork products. This contrast between the abundance of Carnival and the restraint of Lent explains the strongly gastronomic character of the celebration.
What is traditionally eaten on Dijous Gras?
Food is one of the main features of Dijous Gras. In Catalonia, the most characteristic dishes include botifarra d’ou, omelettes and coca de llardons.
Botifarra d’ou is a traditional Catalan sausage made mainly with pork and eggs. It can be eaten on its own, served with bread or included in different dishes. Omelettes are also especially popular, ranging from simple versions to recipes made with potatoes, sausage, bacon or other ingredients.
Coca de llardons is a traditional Catalan pastry usually prepared with pork cracklings, sugar and pine nuts. Schools, associations and towns often organise breakfasts, afternoon snacks, omelette competitions and communal meals that preserve the popular character of the day.
The connection with Carnival and Lent
Dijous Gras opens the most intense period of Carnival. Festivities, costumes and the symbolic reversal of everyday order contrast with the season that follows immediately afterwards: Lent.
This alternation between excess and restraint forms part of the European popular calendar. Days of celebration, food and symbolic disorder are followed by Ash Wednesday, which recalls human fragility and begins the journey towards Easter.
A view from Verges
In Verges, talking about Dijous Gras does not mean moving away from the Procession, but looking at the beginning of the road that leads towards it. Several weeks before Maundy Thursday and the Verges Procession, the popular calendar is already moving towards Lent and Holy Week.
It is also a good opportunity to remember local traditions connected with the days before Lent, such as the Sopa de Verges. This communal soup brings together food, community life and the festive calendar shortly before the beginning of the preparation for Easter.
Frequently asked questions about Dijous Gras
Are Dijous Gras and Fat Thursday the same celebration?
Fat Thursday is the closest English description of Dijous Gras. However, the Catalan celebration has its own traditions, foods and cultural context.
Is Dijous Gras the same as Shrove Tuesday?
No. They belong to the same Carnival period, but they take place on different days. Dijous Gras is celebrated on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, while Shrove Tuesday is the final day before Lent begins.
Is Dijous Gras a public holiday?
Dijous Gras is not normally a public holiday. Nevertheless, many schools, associations and towns organise meals, snacks, omelette competitions and other Carnival activities.
When will Dijous Gras be celebrated in 2027?
In 2027, Dijous Gras will be celebrated on Thursday, February 4, six days before Ash Wednesday.
In summary
Dijous Gras is a transitional celebration. It still belongs to the festive atmosphere of Carnival, but it already points towards Lent. It is a popular, gastronomic and movable celebration whose date ultimately depends on Easter.
