Topic Tuesday #30 2013/02/12 - "A Big Fat Tuesday"
MARDI GRAS!!!What is "Mardis gras" all about? Boiled down to brass tacks, le mardi gras (literally translated, "Fat Tuesday"), is the binge before the purge. Let me elaborate.
Believe it or not, this festival of mirth and merriment, and costumes and cocktails, are all because of Easter.
"Fat Tuesday" is the day before "Ash Wednesday" which marks the beginning of the 40 day fasting / prayer / penance of "Lent". The last week of "Lent" is called the "Holy Week" and contains the "Easter Triduum" and "Maundy Thursday". "Maundy Thursday" (or "Holy Thursday" if you're Catholic), commemorates the "Maundy" (Washing of the Feet) and the "Last Supper"; then followed by "Good Friday" (commemorating the crucifixion). Then of course, Easter Sunday (commemorating the resurrection) itself. Easter is the most important holiday, and moveable feast, for all of Christianity.
So it's all about getting it out of your system before paying penance for 46 days. It's become a fun, gluttonous celebration before the self denial known as Lent.
Celebrating is different in many countries, but for here in the US, we have adopted New Orleans and the French Creole Cajuns to serve as our mainstays of what to do. Beads and Booze, Food and Fun, Masks and Casks, Parades and Parties, and Kings and Queens. The Colors - Purple for justice, Gold for power, and Green for faith, decorate everything. Let the good times roll! (Laissez les bons temps rouler)
Some notable things occurred too;
1912: The last Emperor of China, Hsian-T'ung was forced to abdicate, ending 2,000 years of imperial rule.
1924: First radio address by a president (Calvin Coolidge), First day commercials appeared in broadcasts.
1935: The last of the United States rigid frame airships, the USS Macon, crashed.
1958: Transatlantic jet service started between New York and London.
1973: The first US prisoners of war were released from North Vietnam.
2004: Defying a California law, San Francisco officials began performing weddings for same-sex couples.
2008: The Writers Guild of America screen writer strike ended (and TV viewing was restored)
2010: Winter Olympics opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
2011: The remains of the ship that inspired Moby Dick ("The Two Brothers") was discovered off the coast of Hawaii where it sank in 1823.
What did you do today? Or.. What can you tell us you did tonight?
"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"