Fat Tuesday has come and gone. Hopefully you partook of IHOP's free pancake day or Jack in the Box's free tacos. Now the question is: What is the meaning of Ash Wednesday?

What should be an all out celebration has turned violent as police say several people have been shot today along the Mardi Gras parade route in New Orleans. The Mardi Gras shooting left six people injured.

Jack in the Box is joining IHOP in celebrating Fat Tuesday. Whereas IHOP is giving away short stacks of pancakes, Jack the in Box is giving out coupons for two free tacos.

Why do they call it Fat Tuesday? Because each Polish paczki you eat typically has 300 to 450 calories and 22 to 27 grams of fat. Some other sources say each paczki may have up to 500 calories.

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 24th, 2009, or Mardi Gras is also National Pancake Day. Think of it as IHOP Free Pancake Day.