After Indulgent Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday Signals Abstinence, Fasting

ACROSS AMERICA — After a day of indulgence and spirited debauchery to celebrate Mardi Gras — also known as Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday or by some other name, depending on what part of the world celebrants hail from — the season of Lent, a time of fasting and abstinence in Catholicism and some other Christian denominations, begins Wednesday.

Although Mardi Gras is celebrated on a single day, the carnival season has been in full swing with elaborate masquerade balls and street parties since the feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, April 6.

What Is Mardi Gras?

French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville brought the tradition to America when they landed near present-day New Orleans on March 3, 1699. Realizing it was the eve of the festive holiday, they held a small celebration at the landing spot, which they christened as Point du Mardi Gras, according to History.com.

A celebration in the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile in 1703, and in New Orleans in 1718, according to a history on the Mardi Gras New Orleans website.

The rowdy New Orleans Mardi Gras were halted when the Spanish ruled the Big Easy from 1762 to 1800, and U.S. authorities did the same after taking control of the city in 1803 and outlawed both masked balls and public disguises. The bans were lifted when Louisiana became a state in 1812. Louisiana is the only state to make Mardi Gras a legal holiday.

Is Fat Tuesday Different?

Fat Tuesday is the English translation of Mardi Gras from French. It’s so named as a nod to the lavish feasts that were prepared to eat — rather than waste — foods such as meats, eggs, dairy products, sweets and other foods that would be sacrificed during the holy Lenten season, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter.

Depending on where you live (and your palate), you may observe Fat Tuesday as Pancake Day, which originated in the United Kingdom; Faschnaut Day, a tradition in German communities; and Paczki Day in Polish enclaves. Both faschnaut and paczki translate to “doughnuts.”

King cakes are also eaten, though according to legend, these cakes frequently appear from the Epiphany on Jan. 6 through Fat Tuesday to mark the arrival of the three wise men to Bethlehem to deliver gifts to the newborn Jesus. A plastic baby is often hidden inside the cakes.

What Happens On Ash Wednesday?

In Roman Catholic churches, ashes are applied in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of the faithful. In many cases, they wear the crosses throughout the day to publicly profess their faith.

The ashes symbolize penance, mourning and mortality. Typically, the priest will apply the ashes while saying, “Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, which falls every year on the Sunday before Easter.

Other Christians observing Ash Wednesday include Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians and other Protestants. Some Baptists observe Ash Wednesday, but a majority of evangelical and Pentecostal Christians do not. Mormons also do not observe Ash Wednesday.

How Do Christians Observe Lent?

Many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain foods or luxuries and spend more time in prayer in solemn deference to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice during his retreat in the Judaean Desert, where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Hungry, he resisted each of Satan’s temptations and returned to Galilee, where he began his public ministry.

The purpose of Lent is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ’s suffering and sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection. In practice, that often means fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial and greater spiritual discipline, including more spending more time in prayer and adding daily devotionals to their schedules.

Lent Leads Up To Holy Week

In Western Christianity, the last week of Lent is known as Holy Week.

It begins on Palm Sunday, this year on April 2, the day commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The path he traveled was covered in palm branches, and congregants in many churches are given palms to carry with them to Palm Sunday worship services.

Here are other important dates to know:

April 6: Holy Thursday, also called Maunday Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples.

April 7: Good Friday observes Christ’s crucifixion. In some churches, purple or black cloths are placed over religious objects. Some Christians fast, eating only one substantial meal.

April 9: Lent ends with Easter, which commemorates Christ’s resurrection, and white cloths replace the darker cloths shrouding religious objects. Celebrations are joyous, a contrast to the somber observance of Lent.