| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 4:29:05 PM
I was at a little Chinese takeout this evening and was talking to some people there. The guy had an ash cross on his forehead and another guy asked about it. He said it was for an Ash Wed. service they had been to. Then we started talking about Lent. And I had NO idea that Fat Tuesday had anything to do with religion. I learned something today. They said it was for people to eat all their fats on Fat Tues. then they fast for Lent. I am going to do some research about it all now. I just thought Mardis Gras was a big drunken party.
So does anyone know any more about this? What are your thoughts?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Joey |
Posted - Feb 25 2012 : 2:40:04 PM
What a great idea a pancake supper is. Had never thought about that. How about pancakes and donuts? Joey
Well behaved women rarely make history. |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 8:43:55 PM
On the subject of using up fats--the Episcopal church that I went to would always have a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday (another name for fat Tuesday). It's a tradition in some other churches as well. I'm giving up meat for Lent.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
| Joey |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 7:41:54 PM
Nini said it so well. I was raised "high" Luthern and Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent were religious holidays for us. We fasted every Friday. My german grandmother and family made homemade donuts to use up all the "excess" in the house so we would not be tempted during Lent. As a girl we had off from school the week before Easter and went to church every day (kinda like Bible school)to learn about Lent and Easter. There was much debate about what we would give up for Lent-a sacrafice for us (like you couldn't give up brussel sprouts, etc.) I remember it fondly to this day. Usually I would make donuts too but this year we got a donut at Dunkin Donuts. We had little study booklets kinda like Advent that we studied from. I loved it all and still do. Funny, my girlfriend was raised Luthern but knows little about Lent. Thanks, Nini. Joey
Well behaved women rarely make history. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 12:58:19 PM
Thanks, Nini. I really had no clue about what Mardi Gras. All I have ever seen of it on tv were all the hald naked people and beads and the parades with all the costumes. I didn't know it had anything to do with Lent.
I am having Fat Thursday here apparently. I had gotten some truffles and Turtles from Target and a big huge hazelnut chocolate candy bar. I feel like I have to eat all of it today so I can not eat sweets til after Easter now since I am a day late. I might or might not be sick tonight. But I am going outside to fertilize the front pasture and back yard. So I could possible work some of it off. Maybe.
Sure wish I had some of that King cake too!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| AmethystRose |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 11:04:49 AM
Fat Tuesday is also Fastnacht Day. |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 09:19:02 AM
Thanks, girls - just trying to clarify! :)
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| Bayou Girl |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 08:44:09 AM
Thanks, Nini. Very nicely stated.
~Jennifer~
Farmgirl #3803
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| Melina |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 07:57:22 AM
Nini, thank you for a thoughtful and concise explanation. Too often, Mardi Gras is considered the more important part, but it's only a small part. The time of contemplation and sacrifice during Lent is much more important.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 07:45:40 AM
Okay... I have to be real quick here, but...
Because the practices during Lent used to be more strictly observed, and probably a bit more stringent, Fat Tuesday is a very old practice in the Church where people would consume all the "extras" in their home soas to not be tempted during Lent (when we usually give up our daily comforts and simple pleasures as a form of penance). This would often include butter, fats, sweets, meats, etc. Although Mardis Gras is the French term for Fat Tuesday, this time before Lent was - and still is, and, in religious terms, still should be - a solemn preparation for the Lenten season. For Catholics, it is not meant to be the "celebration" it is known for in secular terms today. It's okay to "celebrate" the goodness we have received from the Lord throughout the year when "cleaning house" on Fat Tuesday; however, the debauchery we find in the secular celebration does not coincide with the true meaning behind the observance. Participants in the secular Mardi Gras celebration go for the party whereas religious celebrants of Fat Tuesday are encountering a completely different experience. There's nothing wrong with having fun (sans the debauchery), but there is a very big difference between the two.
The Lenten Season is a 40 day period before Easter, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. This is a period when the Church prepares its heart in reflection, fasting and prayer for the celebration of Easter. Ash Wednesday is actually properly termed "Day of Ashes," and the "mark" of ashes Catholics receive on their foreheads actually echoes the Biblical mark of ownership, thus symbolizing that believers belong to Christ. In the Catholic Church, Palms from the prior year's Palm Sunday are brought to the Church and prepared for the Ash Wednesday celebration of the Mass, at which time believers are "marked" with the sign of the cross (which usually ends up looking more like a smudge) on the forehead. It is a symbol that we belong to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is an imitation of the spiritual mark or seal that all Christians receive through baptism, when we are delivered from slavery to sin to the become a "slave" of righteousness in Christ. It's also a call to remind us, basically, that from ashes we have come, and to ashes we will return, and but for the Grace of God go our souls. We are called to reflect upon our sins and to repent of them on this day and throughout the Lenten season, especially, because our Salvation came at THE Great Price of Jesus' suffering immense torture and death in atonement for our sins. The ashes also serve as a symbol of the spiritual mark of the Christian faithful we see in the book of Revelation - the 144,000 (symbolically, the believers who are righteous in Christ) will be marked before the judgment.
In the Biblical expression of mourning and penance, people used to cover themselves sackcloth and ashes. We don't really do the sackcloth today, but Ash Wednesday is a day of penance, also symbolized by the ashes on our foreheads. We observe fasting and prayer beginning on Ash Wednesday, which is carried out throughout the Lenten season. Penance is observed by Catholics as a means of showing God we love Him - a personal expression of "trying to make things up to Him," if you will, although we know that our salvation comes solely and completely through Christ. Think of it this way: when you hurt someone, and later regret it, you ask forgiveness, and they forgive you. But in your heart you still want to do something to show them you really understand the pain it caused them - maybe even "fix" or "undo" what you've done, if at all possible. This doesn't change the original act - the person's forgiveness makes that go away - but it does remind you of the pain you caused that person, and helps serve as a reminder that you surely don't want to ever do it again - you know what I mean? Penance doesn't erase our transgressions, it just is our way of saying to God "I'm really sorry, and I love you - I'm going to try my hardest not to do it again." And we must remember that Jesus' atonement cleanses us and removes our sin, but it surely does not remove our offenses themselves, nor their consequences. So, again, our penance can sometimes help make a difference when the consequences affect others - i.e., heal a hurt, fix something broken, "right" a "wrong" - for the sake of God whom we have offended, and for the sake of the person/people whom we have offended.
Easter is the day that He rose from the dead, in fulfillment of the Scriptures - proving that He has overcome death and pours forth everlasting life for all believers.
Having said all of that - I think King cakes ARE yummy, and my parents had a wonderful time at Mardis Gras (although, I'm sure they neither drank nor tried to earn beads!). :) Mardis Gras really can be a lot of fun. It's just really important not to confuse the religious observance with the secular celebration.
Hope this helps a little -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 07:21:37 AM
Marly - I think you ought to bring that King Cake right on up here to Washington:)
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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| Bear5 |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 6:47:22 PM
The King cakes were good this year. I even found a baby in my slice! If you find the baby you have to bring the next King Cake.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 6:46:18 PM
Kristin, all I could do is laugh when I read your post, thanks for that,lmao...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 6:41:40 PM
Mmmmm - King cakes....
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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| Bear5 |
Posted - Feb 22 2012 : 5:15:36 PM
Kris: I am laughing so hard and loud right now. You are almost right about Mardi Gras, for some it is a "big drunken party". Not for all. I celebrate Mardi Gras by going to the parades, etc... Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, which is celebrated the day before ash Wednesday. During Mardi Gras we eat a lot, some drink a lot, before the 40 day abstinence leading up to the day of Easter. Usually during Lent people give up something, like chocolate, beer, wine, etc... So before Ash Wednesday everybody eats everything and anything they want to. There are several people that do not take part in Lent. Have you heard of the King Cakes? On Mardi Gras, which was Tuesday, more King Cakes are sold than any other day, because during Lent most people give up sweets. Hope that gives you some idea of what Fat Tuesday and Ash Wed. is.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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