January 26, 2024
Mardi Gras – February 13
What is Mardi Gras?
By Eloise Graham
Mardi Gras is synonymous with Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi Gras has become known to be more than just one day. It refers to the events of the Carnival celebrations beginning on or after the Christian feasts of Epiphany (Twelfth Night or Three Kings Day) and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday.
Many Caribbean Islands celebrate Carnival. Christian Missionaries allowed for the wild celebrations during this period, hoping for repentance and a change of lifestyle beginning with the Lenten season. It is really amazing to see the party atmosphere, debauchery, etc on Shrove Tuesday – until midnight. Then at the stroke of twelve, all becomes silent, the people go home and the streets are cleared of any sign of rowdiness.
This practice was brought to New Orleans. With a Cajun / French connection, the day was named Mardi Gras and has now become a major attraction for the commerce of Louisiana. Parts of Texas are now engaging in Mardi Gras celebrations and parades.
Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras or even Pancake Tuesday is so named because this is the last day to eat the rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. Many churches and organizations have a pancake super on Shrove Tuesday. Now it is more of a social gathering or perhaps a fundraiser for an organization. But it began as a meal to use up all of the syrup, meat (sausage) and other items from the pantry before the strict fasting of Lent occurred.
Now that brings me to International Pancake Day. This day (varies on the calendar but is on Shrove Tuesday) began February 20, 1950. There is a pancake race competition between Liberal, Kansas USA and Olney, Buckinghamshire, England.
It started with the women of each town running with frypan in hand flipping pancakes as they ran. Now many activities are included in the race day: a family 5K walk/ run, vendor booths, games, many activities for a big day of celebration.
