What is Mardi Gras?
The observance of a “Carnival” (aka Mardi Gras) before the Lenten period (a Christian symbolic penitence from Ash Wednesday to Easter) is not new. It originated in the middle of the second century in Rome when the Fast of the 40 days of Lent was preceded by a feast of several days during which time participants delivered themselves up to voluntary madness, put on masks, clothed themselves like spectres, gave themselves up to Bacchus and Venus and considered all pleasure allowable. The name carnival is derived from the Latin Caro, Carnis, flesh, and vale, farewell (according to Ducange, from the Latin denomination of the feasts of the Middle Ages, carnis levamen, solace of the flesh), because at that time people took leave of flesh. The carnival of the modern world is nothing more or less than the Saturnalia of the Christian Romans who could not forget their pagan festivals. From Rome, the celebration spread to other European countries and finally to America. Carnival is still observed
Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is an annual celebration that takes place before Lent. Also called Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, is usually the last day of Carnival, a week- to month-long celebration in Christian, mostly Roman Catholic, tradition. Mardi Gras is a presented as a great festival, a boisterous carne vale–or “good-bye to the flesh”–that serves as the last sowing of wild oats before the onset of the sober season of Lent heralded by Ash Wednesday. There are many places that are famous for their Mardi Gras celebrations, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Galveston, Texas–in the United States–and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Venice, Italy; and Mazatlan, Mexico–internationally. Essentially, the celebration of Mardi Gras has much to do with satiating appetites before the Lenten season of penitence and self-denial, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. Yet another name for Mardi Gras is “Pancake Tuesday,” which is a reference to the cus
In its strictest sense, “Mardi Gras” means “Fat Tuesday” in French, and it’s the day before Ash Wednesday (the last day for Catholics to indulge before Lent). These days, “Mardi Gras” can refer to the entire season between Epiphany (the 12th day of Christmas) and Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins—a time of discipline and reverence. • What is a krewe? Loosely, any Mardi Gras organization. In New Orleans, some are social-aid-and-pleasure clubs that hold events throughout the year. In Asheville, the krewes are a bit more informal. Each krewe has a king and queen. • How are the king and queen chosen? For the Mystic Mountain Krewe, whoever finds the plastic baby in the king cake becomes the king, and then chooses his queen. Other krewes have different methods. The Mystic Krewe of Munky Doux, for example, has a secret method. • What is a king cake? Traditionally, a king cake is cinnamon-filled dough baked into a ring shape, glazed with multicolored frostings and sprinkled with sugar in the col
