ANDERSON, Ind. —
Beads, booze and debauchery are the images most typically conjure when thinking about Mardi Gras.
Colorful floats, hordes of people, masks and a lot of partying is the picture of many Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans today, but Catholics worldwide celebrate the day — literally translated to Fat Tuesday — in a completely different way, said Mary Ann Nivens, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults director at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
She teaches those in the RCIA classes about the more traditional aspects of the holiday which is often seen as a “last hurrah” before Lent. Traditionally people would rid their homes of temptations before Lent began the following day. Actually, Mardi Gras begins on the 12th night after Christmas — Epiphany — culminating on Shrove Tuesday, another name for Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. On that day, people often celebrated and would often eat rich or fatty foods before the ritual fasting and religious obligations of the Lenten season. One tradition has people feasting on a fattened calf that was slaughtered on the last day of Carnival.
Some call the day Pancake Day with the custom of making pancakes coming from the need to use up fat, eggs and dairy before fasting begins. Today, the fast Catholics fast is no meat on Fridays during the 40 days of Lent.
Shrove Tuesday comes from the word “shrive” — to hear confessions. Nivens said being penitent is often associated with the importance of preparing for the Lenten season and Easter. People were shriven or absolved of their sins on this day so they could begin Lent with a completely clean slate.
“It is a reminder we need to live in penitence, receive forgiveness of our sins so we can go to Heaven,” she said.
In the Catholic faith, along with other religions, members choose to give something up for Lent to represent the sacrifices Jesus made. So many see Shrove Tuesday as a day of celebration, along with penitence; a last day to indulge yourself before the abstinence of Lent.
Over the years many of the traditions associated with this day have evolved. One tradition still associated with the holiday is colorful masks. Today they are worn as a way to celebrate, but in the 18th century, Nivens explained, they were worn by the poor who would go door to door of homes of residents purging their food and the poor would beg wearing the masks to keep from being humiliated.
The colorful beads thrown during celebratory parades were often accompanied by doubloons. The colors of Mardi Gras were shown in these throws — purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.
The RCIA class is hosting a Mardi Gras party this year where they will talk about some of the traditions of the holiday, burn palms in preparation for the Ash Wednesday service and enjoy traditional King Cake and other food. The public is invited to come and bring a covered dish to the carry-in party, she said.
Contact Abbey Doyle: 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com
Community
Related Photos
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Members of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults class at St. Mary's School burn palms in preparation for an Ash Wednesday service. John P. Cleary
Discussion
Mardi Gras' religious roots
Catholics celebrate holiday quite differently from revelry in New Orleans
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