Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday

Just a quick note (on a non-blog day for me) to acknowledge that today is Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French. Mardi Gras came to the United states in 1699 with the French explorer Iberville. 

The History of Mardi Gras dates back to an ancient Roman celebration in mid February. It was a circus like festival somewhat like Mardi Gras today. "When Rome embraced Christianity, the early Church fathers decided it was better to incorporate certain aspects of pagan rituals into the new faith rather than attempt to abolish them altogether. Carnival became a period of abandon and merriment that preceded the penance of Lent." 

Mardi Gras is celebrated the Tuesday before Lent. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and spans the forty-six days before Easter. The Tuesday before is the last day to live it up, eat drink and be merry. Hence Fat Tuesday. Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras?

Comments

[Cindy Patterson]

I have not celebrated Mardi Gras, but I used to have a customer who lived in the heart of New Orleans.
They would be closed the whole week and party, party, party! Every year he would send me a "king cake". They bake a little plastic baby doll in the cake and who ever gets the piece with the doll is supposed to have good luck for that year. I think it's great that you have given the true meaning of Mardi Gras. People need to remember why? and that it's not just party time.

[Deanna Richards]

Like Cindy notes, I have not celebrated Mardi Gras, and to be honest, I did not know that much about the history.

What struck me most is how similar a Mardi Gras celebration appears to be to a "typical" bachelor/bachelorette party. There is such a sense of "live it up" before the "restriction" and "prohibition" arrives.

How sad that Mardi Gras (or a bachelor/bachelorette party) is considered the "last day to be merry," as if there is something to be lost in sacrifice.

Personally, I would rather life a consistent life that is focused on growing more Christ-like every day vs. living it up temporarily...