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Living the Fat Tuesday Life
A Look at Mardi Gras
By Karen Pierce Gonzalez ‘Queen of Folklore,' publisher of Folk Heart Press and author of  ‘Family Folktales: Write Your Own Family Stories’

Mardi Gras is a colorful, exciting celebration that is literally thousands of years old. Originally a time of Pagan spring and fertility rites it became a Christian holiday. Held between Epiphany (January 6) and Ash Wednesday (start of the Lent) it migrated with Roman Catholic Christianity from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England.

Today’s extravaganza of food, music, art and dance that has also found a home in secular communities all over the world drawing thousands of tourists each year to such places as Brazil, Venice, Quebec, and New Orleans.

Also known as Carnival Season Mardi Gras is the French word for “Fat Tuesday” or “Shrove Tuesday.” As a Christian ritual it took place the day before Lent as a prelude Over time the day itself was expanded to become a season during which people gathered together to eat  rich fatty foods in preparation for the more somber fasting and other religious obligations that mark the Lenten season.

Traditionally occurring about 46 days before Easter, the most well-known and possibly most extravagant American Mardi Gras occurs in New Orleans on Feb. 21, 2012. In Brazil it is referred to as Carnival based upon the Latin word Carnval (‘saying goodbye to meat).  Rowdy parties, outrageous parade floats, and other activities which include a variety of physical pleasures such as eating and dancing are commonplace during this time. Traditional Mardi Gras and Carnaval colors of green, red and gold can be seen everywhere, including in the glass or plastic bead necklaces that are bartered for glimpses of bare flesh.

Secular celebrations offer people a chance to wear full face, Venetian or eye masks and elaborate often seductive or outlandish costumes. Some of the more popular costumes are of court jesters, harlequins and famous Spanish or French figures, like Marie Antoinette. Mardi Gras revelers participate in lavish parades, drink and dance until the wee hours. In general, the celebration has come to represent a time when social conventions are allowed to wane; especially in light of the abstinence from worldly pleasures that is often associated with Lent.

In English church communities where Mardi Gras is still associated with religion, people gather together and celebrate by eating traditional Mardi Gras foods like pancakes and/or fried pastries.

Netherland tradition mark Carnaval as a time to stop eating meat. In almost all Spanish speaking countries, one of the more popular rituals is eating King Cakes. King Cakes are flat and round like a wreath. A tiny plastic baby is placed in the cake batter and tradition says that the person who gets the slice of cake with the baby will have good luck.

Some parts of the world have found yet other ways to usher in this celebratory time of year. For example, in Canada there are numerous comedy, food and music festivals as well as snow-related activities and competitions. Bolivia’s customs include parades for children which are kept separate from parades for adults. In Trinidad, steel bands are a Mardi Gras mainstay.

A spring fertility ritual that became a religious observance, Mardi Gras has taken on the communal flavor of whatever region it exists in. Through food, music and dance it reflects the pleasures that can be experienced while ‘in the flesh’.

Karen Pierce Gonzalez was interviewed on Big Blend Radio about the history of Mardi Gras. To listen click here.

Karen Pierce Gonzalez ‘Queen of Folklore’ is publisher of Folk Heart Press. Karen is an award winning fiction and non fiction writer.  Author of the ‘Family Folktales: Write Your Own Family Stories’ workbook and ‘Family Folktales: What Are Yours?’, she has been interested in folktales and folklore for more than two decades. Learn more at:  www.FolkheartPress.com