This weekend marks the beginning of carnival in Brazil. Here in the United States, the celebration that most resembles it, Mardi Gras, takes place in New Orleans on Tuesday, February 21, the famous “Fat Tuesday.”
You know the meaning of Mardi Gras – and why it is celebrated? Check out the text below and learn about the history of this festive tradition.
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, when the Christian season of Lent begins. This day is also called “fat Tuesday,” a name that comes from the practice of purifying oneself through confession – before Lent. For many Christians, fat Tuesday is a time to receive penance and absolution.
But what does this have to do with carnival? In practice, this term refers to the festive period that begins on January 6 (Epiphany) and ends on Mardi Gras. In cities like New Orleans (USA), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Venice (Italy), there are festivals lasting one or two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras.
What does Mardi Gras mean?
In French, Mardi Gras means “fat Tuesday.” (Mardi is the word for Tuesday and gras is the word for fat).
This name comes from the tradition of using up eggs, milk, and fat from the pantry, because these foods were prohibited during the 40-day Lenten fast, which begins the following day (Ash Wednesday) and ends on Holy Thursday (three days before Easter, which is on Sunday).
Therefore, a large part of “fat Tuesday” should be dedicated to eating an abundance of delicious fried foods – especially donuts and pancakes. By the way, in England, “Fat Tuesday” is called “Pancake Tuesday.”
The word “carnival” also comes from this tradition: in medieval Latin, carnelevarium means “to take away or remove meat.” During Lent, Catholics traditionally gave up meat and primarily ate fish.
The History of Mardi Gras
Some historians believe that Mardi Gras celebrations began before the rise of Christianity as a pagan festival in Rome. But with the arrival of Christianity, it was incorporated into the Christian calendar.
The masked balls of Venice became especially famous in Renaissance Italy and spread to France and England.
In the United States, it is believed that the celebration was brought by a French Canadian who arrived in an area that would now be in the state of Alabama on the eve of “Fat Tuesday,” which he named “Pointe du Mardi Gras.” This location held the first Mardi Gras in the United States in 1703.
Mardi Gras began to be celebrated in New Orleans shortly after the city was founded in 1718. The first recorded street parade took place in 1837. Now a large metropolis, New Orleans is a city known for its famous carnival with parades, floats, masked balls, and plenty of food.
Traditions of Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• Masks: Masks are one of the most popular traditions of Mardi Gras. It is believed that masks during Mardi Gras allowed social classes to mingle as they wished.
• Parades: The parades are organized by prestigious social clubs of New Orleans, or Krewes (pronounced “crews”). Each Krewe has its own royal court and organizes parties and masked balls during the carnival season, before the parade.
• Beads: Krewe members on floats throw beads to parade participants; it has been a tradition since 1870. The beads symbolize a king throwing jewels to his loyal subjects as he passes in his carriage.
• Purple, green, and gold: The colors of Mardi Gras were selected by the Krewe of Rex in 1872. Purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power.
• King cake: Eaten only during Mardi Gras, king cake is a blend of French cuisine and coffee cake, covered with icing and sugar in the colors of Mardi Gras. They can be served on Three Kings Day (January 6) until the end of Mardi Gras. A small baby (representing Jesus) is hidden in the cake. The tradition says that whoever receives the piece of king cake containing the baby must provide the cake at the next gathering.
Source: Almanac.com