Jesus and the Mardi Gras Party
When you think of Mardi Gras party supplies you probably don’t think of rosaries, crosses and figures of saints. Mardi Gras has become a major party occasion in much of the West, but it originally has its roots in the Catholic Christian liturgical calendar. Mardi Gras is the same as Carnival or Shrovetide. It officially begins around the Epiphany, which celebrates Jesus being recognized and announced as the son of God. However, Mardi Gras and Epiphany are not the same thing.
The reason for the celebration is simple. Mardi Gras happens right before Lent, which is historically a time of fasting. People abstain from eating rich fatty foods, and give up meat on Fridays or even the whole Lenten season. Lent lasts for six weeks, and is considered a time of penance to absolve people of their sins.
Since people are about to start fasting, historically there has been a festival as one last hurrah. Ash Wednesday is the official start of Lent, so Mardi Gras falls the day before, on Tuesday (hence the nickname “Fat Tuesday”). People often over-indulge on this day, to the chagrin of clergy, because it is their last chance to pig out. This laissez faire attitude has become the spirit of Mardi Gras and is the original reason for all the drinking, partying and promiscuous behavior.
If you go to a Mardi Gras party this year, take a minute to think about the history behind the day – and to think whether you’ll need to do any extra fasting!
