Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Source Infrogmation, Author Infrogation of New Orleans (CC BY-SA 4.0 International, 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic, 1.0 Generic and GNU Free Documentation License)
Mardi Gras is on February 17th this year. As always, it falls on the last day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday”, referring to the last day Christians have traditionally been permitted to indulge in rich foods before the Lenten fast [1]. In New Orleans, it stretches from Twelfth Night a/k/a Epiphany on January 6th to Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras represents a last opportunity for merrymaking.
Few revelers these days plan to adhere to religious obligations in the weeks afterward. Most Christian denominations still do though observe the penitential Lenten season [2].
In contrast with Mardi Gras, the 40 days of Lent are meant to remind us of Christ’s fast in the desert before His public ministry, and turn our thoughts to His Passion. For Christians, it is a time of introspection and repentance. Many churches remove flowers from their altars, and veil the crucifix during Lent.
Lent, of course, culminates in Easter – that most joyous of celebrations commemorating Christ’s Resurrection. No amount of Mardi Gras revelry can compare.
—
[1] Wikipedia, “Mardi Gras”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras.
[2] Wikipedia, “Lent”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent.
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse and More
https://avoicereclaimed.com
A Lawyer's Prayers 