This past Tuesday (February 13) is known by many names around the world - Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, among others. Do you know why?
This past Wednesday (February 14) was Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent and it was also Valentine’s Day – one is a religious holiday of abstinence, the other is a day of indulgence! This mix-up has happened for the first time since 1945 and has made for some confusion to many people who follow both celebrations. Do you know why?
Lent
This is the time of year that is celebrated by devout Christians, Lent is a story of sadness and of joy. It is a story that took place many years ago, but it is still celebrated throughout the world today.
Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter in the Christian calendar. It is a time of deep reflection as they prepare to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The religious see Lent as a 40-day period of going without; it is a period of choosing to not eat something they really like to eat or drink, like chocolate or coffee or any sweet things that have sugar in them. It is a time to discipline one’s self.
This is also the time of year that Carnival festivals take place. “Mardi Gras” means “Fat Tuesday” in French. It also means Carnival time. When you think of Mardi Gras/Carnival you think of colourful costumes, fun parades in the street, loud music, dancing; all of these events for the festivals originally started as religious festivals.
The Carnival season officially begins on Epiphany; this is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on January 6, called Three King’s Day. It is thought that the Mardi Gras festival was brought to the Caribbean and Americas by French explorers during the 17th century. Mardi Gras was also celebrated during Pagan times to mark the arrival of spring season after a long cold winter. These days, it is celebrated as Easter. The biggest carnival festival known by people all over the world is the one in Brazil. It stops on Ash Wednesday and then the revellers start their Lent.
In England, the start of Lent begins on Shrove Tuesday - this is Pancake Day. The pancakes that everyone eats are more like the French crepes than the American breakfast pancake; but for pancake lovers, it does not matter which ones they eat.The recipe for pancakes is great for using up milk and eggs before giving up these things for Lent.
The idea behind Fat Tuesday is that everyone eats and eats up just about everything in their pantries and refrigerators so that they are not tempted to eat during the 40-day period. That is where the name “Fat Tuesday” is thought to come from! Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.
Ash Wednesday is a day of penitence or cleansing of the soul. Christians will go to church for Lent services where they will be marked with a cross of ashes on their forehead. “Mothering Sunday” takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent; this is a day that Christians celebrate mothers and those that are maternal. It does not always fall on the same day as the commercial Mother’s Day.
The last week of the Lenten period is a week called “Holy Week.” It is a week filled with many special celebrations. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday; this is the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Crosses made from palm leaves are given out to the congregation.
The Thursday before Easter is Holy (Maundy) Thursday. This celebrates the last meal Jesus ate with his disciples, washing their feet and leading them in the first ever Eucharist. The following day is Good Friday; this is the day Jesus died on the cross. On this day, many people, who haven’t been very strict during Lent, make sure they do not eat any red meat; they eat fish instead. The last day of Lent is Easter Saturday. On Easter Sunday, everyone celebrates with wonderful food and lots of chocolate – even if they are not very strictly religious.
Now this year, the super fun, chocolate-filled day called Valentine’s Day fell on the first day of Lent called Ash Wednesday. This caused confusion to many people because very religious people usually also celebrate Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day came about because of a love story that took place many years ago.
April Fool’s
Another strange mix-up of dates to take place this calendar year is that Easter Sunday falls on April Fool’s Day!!!
The exact origin of April Fool’s Day is unknown, but it is believed that April Fool’s Day may have started in France when Pope Charles IX changed the calendar to go with the Roman calendar. Once long ago, the New Year started on April 1, but the people in France decided in the year of 1582 to change the New Year Date to January 1. Some of the people there did not know about the change and continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1. Those people were considered “April Fools.”
During this period, there was another festival that took place every year. This time, it was a festival that the Romans celebrated – it was the Festival of Hilaria where the god Attis was celebrated. The Festival of Hilaria was held on March 25; it was a day of laughing and telling jokes. We get the word hilarious from this festival. The festival was held in the belief that laughter and joy symbolize throwing away bad thoughts. Jokes and laughter and many pranks are played on April Fool’s Day.
Now that you know this, what trick can you think of to take part in an April Fool’s joke and yet still enjoy Easter Day?
