“Throw me some beads, mister!”
The last day of gluttony, debauchery, wild celebrations, and a last hoo-rah for anyone and everyone preparing for the upcoming Lent season is today – “Fat Tuesday”, for tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. As anyone knows who participates in Lent, Ash Wednesday starts the fasting and religious obligations associated with the season of Lent. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb. 13th, and go until Saturday, March 30th, with Easter Sunday on March 31st.
Being from West Texas, I don’t ever recall being familiar with Mardi Gras or “Carnaval”… that is, until I moved to Biloxi, Miss., and was given three days off from school to “celebrate” Mardi Gras. I didn’t get to celebrate it much, as I was in the band and we had to march in several parades around Biloxi and the Gulf Coast.
Now that I’m older, I hear more and more about Brazil’s Carnaval celebrations and I look at all the colorful photos that come out of those celebrations. There are some truly beautiful and colorful floats and costumes.
Photo Credit: Pinterest / Photo Source: www.umbrellamarela.com
Photo Credit: Pinterest / Photo Source: no longer available
I told my husband the other night that I would love to – at least once in my life – attend Brazil’s Carnaval celebration! I’ve been to the French Quarter in New Orleans several times, and it’s ok to visit during the day when it’s not Mardi Gras… and I know that those who can make it to the French Quarter during Mardi Gras enjoy the throwing of the beads, the flashing of the boobs and other body parts from high-up balconies or down on the streets, and the drinking of every kind of mixed drink known (and unknown) to man.
The first King Cake I ate was in Spanish class my junior year in high school in Biloxi, and lo and behold, I bit down into that little baby that was baked into that yummy King Cake. Everyone told me that it was “good luck” to get the baby. I though to myself, “Ok, but it wouldn’t have been lucky for me if I had choked on that little good luck piece.”
I’m beginning to ramble about this 2-3 day celebration, but my actual point is Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. (I’ve written about Lent before… you can find it in my archives if you’d like). Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and it occurs 46 days before Easter. According to Wikipedia, it is a “moveable fast that can fall as early as Feb. 4 and as late as March 10.”
Many mark Ash Wednesday by placing ashes on the forehead as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter Sunday.
Lent, as I mentioned earlier, is a season of fasting which many religions observe. I have participated in Lent in the past, and I have decided to once again participate this year. I don’t think you have to be affiliated with a certain religion or spiritual group to participate in Lent, but I think your heart, mind and soul have to be in one accord to fully emerge yourself in this season of fasting.
In my opinion, Lent is not something to take lightly. A lot of people may see Fat Tuesday as the last day to “sin as much as possible” before they begin a spiritual renewal, so to speak. In the past, the way I have “fasted” during Lent was to give up something bad for me and then I have tried to incorporate something good for me in its place. For example, the first year I did Lent, I gave up Diet Coke and took up exercise. I’m not going to lie and say it was easy, but sacrifice and fasting is never easy. Then to commemorate this small accomplishment, I got a rosary tattoo around my right ankle.
So this year, I decided to once again, give up Diet Coke. Since I’m already exercising, I decided to take up healthier eating habits, which includes staying away from carbs (most, if not all) and sweets. I want to live a long healthy life, and by kicking bad habits and replacing them with good habits, I should be able to accomplish this! Heck, I may even become one of the world’s oldest living women and make it into the Guinness Book of World Records!
The reason I say that Lent shouldn’t be taken lightly is because even though I did it one year out of however many I could have done it, I have since realized that I have taken my faith lightly. Yes, I believe in God, and yes, I believe that I am saved (thanks to the wonderful grace of God). We, as Christians or as people of Faith (regardless of your particular religion), should see Lent as a season of renewal. We should recommit to our faith during Lent and continue to grow year after year.
Does this we shouldn’t celebrate Mardi Gras or Carnaval? No, by no means am I saying that. Celebrate and have a great time, but just don’t go to the extent to which you have in the past.
Looky there… I’m beginning to sound “preachy”… and that was not my intent, so it is as this point I will quit rambling.
So if you are planning to participate in Lent this year, from what are you planning to “fast” or what do you plan to give up? Have you participated in Lent in the past, and like me, did something to commemorate your accomplishment? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!
I hope everyone’s last day of Mardi Gras or Carnaval is fabulous! Have a great time celebrating, and please be careful!
Have a great day!
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