2007-02-07 09:22:07 · 13 answers · asked by Giggly Giraffe 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, however it preceeds a holy day and was created because of that day. Mardi Gras stands for Fat Tuesday, and then the Wednsday after is Ash Wednsday, which is a holy day. Mardi Gras is just a day to celebrate and party befrore the holy day which includes fasting.
2007-02-07 09:26:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not a holy day but here is some history for you behind Mardi Gras.
The Mardi Gras or Carnival season officially begins on January 6th or the "Twelfth Night" or also known to Christians as the "Epiphany" from a Greek word that means to show." Bethlehem is where Infant Jesus first showed Himself to the world. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside of each King Cake. The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870.
The King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy rich in flavor and history. The Cake is made with a rich Danish dough which is a cross between a coffee cake and a French pastry It is covered with a poured sugar topping and decorated with the traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars. The end result is a delicious and festive cake decorated in traditional Rex colors: PURPLE which signifies "Justice" GREEN for "Faith" and GOLD for "Power." These colors were to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. In the past, such things as coins, beans, pecans or peas were hidden inside each King Cake.
Today a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby." If so, then that person is named "King"; for a day. Tradition has now evolved through time to obligate the person who receives the baby to continue the festivities by hosting another king cake party.
On Mardi Gras Day, the day before Ash Wednesday, the largest and longest parades are held. Rex, King of Carnival, is a prominent businessman, chosen by secret committee. His Queen is always a debutante of the current season. On Mardi Gras day, everyone joins in the costuming, young and old alike, resident and tourist.
Hundreds of thousands of King Cakes are consumed at parties every year, making the King Cake another fine Louisiana tradition. A Mardi Gras party just wouldn't be a Mardi Gras party without a King Cake
2007-02-07 19:22:38 · answer #2 · answered by Littlebigdog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Originally Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday was kind of a Holy Day but, not a full fledged one. It was only that because it reflected on what was coming the next day -- Ash Wednesday. It was never meant to be the big to do it is in New Orleans. All it is there now is an excuse to sin even more than normal.
2007-02-07 17:28:10 · answer #3 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, from what I understand, Mardi Gras is a celebration in PREPARATION for a holy day, or week, for that matter. Mardi Gras is an unofficial way to get loose before preparing for the stringent week following, that of Lent. Lent is when a person gives up some favored item or activity in honor of God.
2007-02-07 17:26:18 · answer #4 · answered by chrisser665 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, not for Catholics at least. Mardi Gras translates as "Fat Tuesday." The tradition comes from the fact that it is the last day of ordinary time before Lent, a season of solemnity and fasting. It used to be that there was a whole list of foods that were not to be eaten during Lent, so people would throw a party to use them up. It's a fun secular celebration - who doesn't like a party? - but it isn't really a religious day.
2007-02-07 17:27:24 · answer #5 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, Mardi Gras is a celebration of Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent (the forty-day period when devout Catholics begin their "fasting") beings on Ash Wednesday. Lent is the holy time; Mardi Gras is the secular, naughty celebration on the eve of the holy day.
2007-02-07 17:27:02 · answer #6 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You've never been to Mardi Gras have you?
No, its a giant party thrown for two weeks before Lent. Music, food, dancing, sex, Carnival, parades, masked balls, you name it.
It started out religious but it doesn't even remotely approach it. Now its a time for the worst kind of debauchery imaginable.
Its also alot of fun if you like that sort of thing. But to me, I'm not big on party's and the idea of all the booze and nakedness that goes on isn't very appealing.
How do I know what goes on? Because my husband is from New Orleans and I'm going to be moving there at some point in the near future. I know more about it than I ever thought I would.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
2007-02-07 17:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
According to "Oxford Dictionary of Current English, Third Edition" it's: "The last day of feasting before Lent." Yes, it is a holy day in that regard.
2007-02-07 17:27:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. It only exists in contrast to Ash Wednesday, a final blowout before the time of fasting. The word "Carnival" comes from "carne-vale", literally, "goodbye meat."
2007-02-07 17:26:10 · answer #9 · answered by skepsis 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Fat Tuesday" is celebrated the day before lent starts. The idea was eat/celebrate/etc while you can as it used to be that during lent, you fasted every day and are supposed to make sacrifices.
2007-02-07 17:27:31 · answer #10 · answered by Lee Esi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋