MARDI GRAS
This week many of our neighbors were celebrating Mardi Gras. In Gulf Shores, we are used the Mardi Gras and its cultural implications. However, it wasn’t until two years ago, that I had my first Mardi Gras experience. After being born and raised in the Mid-South, I was not familiar with such a holiday. I always thought it was something celebrated by college students in New Orleans and that it was a very immoral activity. Since we have moved here we have learned so much about this holiday and its traditions.
Let me give you some background on this holiday. On March 3, 1699, French Explorers travelled up the Mississippi River at stayed the night at a place called Mardi Gras. Since these men were following the journals of LaSalle, hoping to retrace each of his steps, they awoke next morning inspired to begin their trek up the mighty Mississippi. The men shot their guns to alert the Indians and continued upriver in search of the Malbanchya tribe described in the journals of LaSalle.
The date was permanently marked on the Catholic calendar because of what happened on that journey. These men were spiritually keen and believed in God’s direction throughout the voyage. Their reports state: Tuesday, the 3rd, Mardi Gras, toward seven in the morning, the services of the mass were held and we chanted a Te Deum to celebrate our acquaintance with the river Mississippi. . . . Wednesday, the 4th, Ash Wednesday, everyone received the ashes on the forehead, then we offered the sacrifice of the Mass. After having planted a cross and having had our breakfast, we embarked again.
These men were explorers, but paused to give honor to their God before making the difficult trek. Personally, I think it is interesting that the city/province of Mardi Gras no longer exists, that particular bend in the Mississippi River has never been found (approximately 60 miles south of New Orleans), but the date still remains on the calendar.
Some historians believe that the foundation of Mardi Gras was started long before the French exploration. There may be a relationship to the ancient fertility rituals performed to welcome the coming of Spring (i.e. Lupercalia a celebration around mid-February in Rome). We do know that the early church leaders diverted the pagan practices of many holidays toward a more Christian focus. However, the French made the celebration popular.
Today, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) precedes Lent which is a season of prayer and fasting observed by the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations. It begins with Ash Wednesday, the day many Catholics go to mass to receive the sign of the cross marked in ash on their foreheads, and it lasts for 40 days and seven Sundays before Easter Sunday. Therefore, Mardi Gras is the last chance for these religious people to eat “high on the hog” and “party it up” before the 40 days of their spiritual journey. So, unfortunately the “Christian” part of the holiday is often overshadowed by the holiday itself. Like many other special days on the calendar it would serve us well to study its original purpose.