LIFE: observed: CULTURAL OBSERVATION 892: Mardi Gras!

Monday, February 20, 2012

CULTURAL OBSERVATION 892: Mardi Gras!

So, a group of us celebrated Mardi Gras this past weekend at a friends house. The term "Mardi Gras" in English, refer to events, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday; in English the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess." Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent.

Popular practices include wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of traditionally ethnic French cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations. In the rural Acadiana area, many Cajuns celebrate with the Courir de Mardi Gras, a tradition that dates to medieval celebrations in France. Which gave the perfectly good reason to gorge ourselves on good ol' Cajun food, like Gumbo, Jambalaya, meat pies etc.

Another interesting thing was King Cake. The cake has a small trinket (often a small plastic baby, said to represent Baby Jesus) inside (or sometimes placed underneath), and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations, if he does not die from swallowing and having the trinket lodge in a mayor airway of course...

The "king cake" takes its name from the biblical three kings. The season for king cake extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Twelfth Night and Epiphany Day), up until Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday;" the day before the start of Lent. Some organizations or groups of friends may have "king cake parties" every week through the Carnival season.

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I am a South African serving with Mercy Ships currently stationed in the United States. Mercy Ships, a global charity who has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978, is following the example of Jesus, by bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide, and serving all people without regard to race, gender or religion.

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Disclaimer: I serve with Mercy Ships. Everything here, however, is my personal opinion and is not read or approved before it is posted. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercy Ships.

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