Terminally Curious here today.
I have to be honest–Fat Tuesday isn’t a holiday my family has celebrated in the past. In fact, I’d never heard of it before I first visited New Orleans.
Now I know it’s the final day of Mardi Gras and the day before Lent begins. Fat Tuesday is the day to eat and drink and have fun, because for the next few weeks (until Easter, I think) you have to be real good and give up something you like.
Just guessing, but I have a feeling it started as a religious celebration that grew.
So what does Fat Tuesday mean to me? I’ll probably wear my New Orleans beads to work, but not much else. I don’t give up anything for Lent. I always thought if I were going to embrace that custom, I’d give up something I didn’t like anyway. You know, like cleaning house. Or eating squid.
But I know there are people out there who celebrate everything. Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday AND Lent.
I really want to know what it’s like for y’all. How do you celebrate?
And if you do the Lent thing, what have you given up and how successful have you been? (And if you can tell me WHY it’s done, I’d love that, too.)
Though Catholic, I don’t celebrate Fat Tuesday, but I do adhere to Lenten rules . . . when I remember them. :-p Yes, I’ve been known to eat meat on Fridays and then remember it’s Lent, but then again, pepperoni isn’t really meat, is it??
I usually cut out candy, desserts and other sweets. No more eating handfuls of Nestles semi-sweets. *sigh* Oh, well, I need to jump start the diet anyway–swimsuit season is coming quickly.
*says the woman with the blanket wrapped around her.
I used to give up something for Lent, but don’t now.
” I’ll probably wear my New Orleans beads to work, but not much else.”
Aren’t you going to get cold?
Fat Tuesday is celebrated the day (or possibly the week) before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. Lent goes through Easter Sunday.
I’m not sure if all Christian religions celebrate it or not. I’m Catholic, and we do. Our school has a huge Mardi Gras celebration. Currently, I’m in Mexico, and I can tell you they celebrate with carnival (parade, music, etc.)
As for the giving up thing, we try to give up something each Lenten season. You can always have a back up plan. A co-worker gives up Coke every year, but if she just HAS to have one, she has to put money into a rice bowl. I can’t remember how much, but it’s more than the cost of a Coke. You can either give something up or plan to do something. Either way the reasons is to remind you of the sacrifices that Jesus made for us, and the life that He wants us to live.
Whew! Catechism 101 is a tough one. I hope this helps.
Sandy