Mardi Gras is about music, parades, beads, floats and lots of excitement. It is one big celebration and holiday in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.
Shrove Tuesday is also celebrated today, too. It is a day of celebration as well as penitence, because it's the last day before Lent. Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Giving up foods but not wasting them. In the old days there were many foods that observant Christians would not eat during Lent: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the shriving Tuesday, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent.
The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name Mardi Gras; meaning Fat Tuesday. Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all of the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour.
We are celebrating Mardi Gras this evening with our kids and grandkids. It is very important to me that they get to experience and understand some of the traditions I grew up with. And it's another reason to have a party!!!
Here's a video of the 2015 Mardi Gras parade held at Universal Studios in Orlando. I thought it would be a good clean version for you to see. :)
Shrove Tuesday is also celebrated today, too. It is a day of celebration as well as penitence, because it's the last day before Lent. Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Giving up foods but not wasting them. In the old days there were many foods that observant Christians would not eat during Lent: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the shriving Tuesday, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent.
The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name Mardi Gras; meaning Fat Tuesday. Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all of the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour.
We are celebrating Mardi Gras this evening with our kids and grandkids. It is very important to me that they get to experience and understand some of the traditions I grew up with. And it's another reason to have a party!!!
Here's a video of the 2015 Mardi Gras parade held at Universal Studios in Orlando. I thought it would be a good clean version for you to see. :)
I love this sign.....it is so true! It makes me smile. ;)
I'll have pics of our celebration for you tomorrow.
Take care and Happy Mardi Gras!!!
Take care and Happy Mardi Gras!!!
Hi, I’m Debbie and I’m a Louisiana born/Texas living wife to a wonderful man who is patient and understanding (99% of the time) of my never-ending list of projects. 
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