Your resource for Researched Carnival Information

The Season of Lent

New Orleans, La.....    

We celebrate every year. Still, most of us, that take this personal time out, to celebrate Carnival, never know why they're raising all that cane. Most have no clue and some don't want one. 

But for those among you, that have that inquisitive mind, this is one of a series of articles is intended to, at the very least, give you some idea, as to why you're going through this, and sending the natives up the walls.

We'll start with the day after the streets have been cleared and the natives venture out of their homes , or return to town, to see if New Orleans is still here. It's Ash Wednesday, the first day, of " Lent ". 

For Christians, especially Catholics, Lent is a 40-day penitential period of prayer and fasting that precedes Easter. This is observed in memory of the 40 day fast of Jesus in the desert. Formerly a severe fast was prescribed: only one full meal a day was allowed, and meat, fish, eggs, and milk products were forbidden. Today, however, prayer and works of charity are emphasized. Lent has been observed since the 4th century.

In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why people call the festival, "Carnival", which is Latin for "farewell to Flesh (meat)".

  In Eastern Orthodox churches or In the Eastern church Lent extends over 7 weeks or 50 days. This is because both Saturdays and Sundays are excluded.   In Western Christendom, or the Western church, observance of Lent begins 6 1/2 weeks prior to Easter on Ash Wednesday; ( only Sundays are excluded). Lent is observed for six weeks and four days.

In the year 1091 the Synod of Benevento declared the Wednesday following the three days of celebration of the end of winter and the onset of spring to be Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent,( The day after Mardi Gras) gets its name from the practice, mainly in the Roman Catholic church, of putting ashes on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them that "man is but dust."

 Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Holy Week begins on this day. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, is in memory of the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion.

Many Easter customs come from the Old World. The white lily, the symbol of the resurrection, is the special Easter flower. Rabbits and colored eggs have come from pagan antiquity as symbols of new life. Easter Monday egg rolling, a custom of European origin, has become a tradition, as of late with the country starting to celebrate. In North Carolina, Easter Monday is still a holiday and there are many Easter egg hunts. 

Lent in Louisiana, is preceded by a carnival season. The origin of the word carnival is probably from the Latin carne vale, meaning "flesh (meat), farewell." Elaborate pageants often close this season on Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent. This day is also called by its French name, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

Ongoing research continues on this subject

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