Mardi Gras

I've never really understood Mardi Gras. Oh, I know that "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday," that it is the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and that originally it was a day when people feasted on the foods they weren't allowed to eat during Lent (this was prior to electricity and refrigeration, food would spoil, so might as well jump in and enjoy!). No, I mean the Mardi Gras of today. The Mardi Gras of Bourbon Street. The Mardi Gras of parades and plastic beads. I don't get it.

First of all, I think it's pretty much lost it's original purpose. Not many folks who celebrate Mardi Gras are going to be fasting that much during Lent. Even if they were, we have freezers now.

It's an excuse to throw a huge party. I don't need to list all the behaviors and revelries associated with Mardi Gras, you can just as easily find that out anywhere on the internet or the news tonight and tomorrow. But, you know what I mean. By the way, what's up with the beads? Again, I just don't get it. Maybe someone more enlightened can help me.

In a limited defense of Mardi Gras, I was in New Orleans several years ago (pre-Katrina) for a conference. I was staying with my good friend, Trey Harris, who, at the time, was pastoring Algiers United Methodist Church, right across the river from New Orleans, proper. It was just before the season of Mardi Gras, and public workers were busy all over the city putting up bleachers and barricades, getting ready for the various parades held in different neighborhoods. Trey noted that many of the parades are great family friendly community events that give neighbors an opportunity to hang out and have a little fun together. So, it's not all debauchery, I guess. One of the things I enjoyed about New Orleans was the laid back attitude. It was laid back, all the way back. I think Kentucky is fairly laid back compared to other places in the United States, but New Orleans puts us to shame in laid backness!

One good thing about Mardi Gras: King Cakes. Ever had one? They're goooood.

Well, I'll probably spend a rather quiet Mardi Gras. Who knows, I might run across the street to Great Harvest and grab one of those King Cakes!