i only know fat tuesday the bar and grill :P

Fat Tuesday is part of the Christian calender, and marks the last day before the beginning of Lent. It has no relation to Chinese New Year at all!

They are quiet different. I am not familiar with the Fat Tuesday. But I suppose both of them is wonderful. Chinese New Year is a celebration for the new year in Chinese Lunar Calendar. People gather their familiy for celerating the coming new year. All people hope fortune in the beginning of new year. So, there is much traditional custom in Chinese New Year. Such as gathering, giving packet money, inter blessing with some lucky words, worshipping and others. People hope these can bring a fortune to them in the new year.

What's the similarity between them? BTW, what's the difference between a cow and a skyscraper?

In my opinion,we chinses needn't to through the 40-day "lent".The Chinese New Year is just a opportunity for everyone to go home and to show filial obedience to their parents.In our china we have an old proverb,which says"Filial piety tops all virtues".So that's why all chinese to place importance on The Chinese New Year. As for Fat Tuesday,I think it's obtain some religion factor,Chinese New Year haven't it.