Mardi Gras

As is the case with many feasts and holy days, the various traditions of pre-Lent celebration such as Mardi Gras, have become largely separated from their origins as part of the liturgical year.

Mardi Gras now conjures colourful images of New Orleans, elaborate masquerades and parades. Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival all derive their names from the same moment in the liturgical year. In the days and weeks leading up to the solemn fasting season of Lent, the faithful would use up all those foods from which they would then abstain. Sugar, butter, cheese, meat, all these things were given up as a part of the Lenten fast. (All these things thus become a part of a complete pancake supper).

The tradition of making merry and having elaborate parties during Mardi Gras was also an effort to have one last gasp of celebration before turning to solemn self-examination and the contemplation of the trials of Jesus' life and ministry.

Before we dive head first into Lent, we take the time to say goodbye to the things that we give up in order to look more closely and deeply into our own hearts and souls. We put away certain things, not because they are inherently bad or sinful, but because they are not for now. In Ecclesiastes we read that there is a season and a time for everything. If Lent is a time for solemnity and self-examination,; for almsgiving and for fasting, for prayer and for turning towards God; then Mardi Gras is a time for dancing and celebration; for feasting and laughter.

This week we are invited to dwell fully in that time of feast before the fast. On Friday at our Mardi Gras party, with friends and families from St Philip's and beyond; this Saturday at the consecration of our new Bishop; on Sunday when we commit ourselves to keeping a holy Lent, bury our Alleluia and then eat pancakes together.

All these steps lead us towards Ash Wednesday next week, when we will lay down all our luxuries and worldly cares and burdens; then during the season of Lent, we are called by Jesus to take his yoke, which is light and leads us to freedom, but together with him we will carry it through the darkness of Gethsemane and the cross, before we will feast again with the Risen Christ at Easter.