Mardi Gras
2 min read
By: Calia Bennett
Originating from pagan fertility and spring rituals thousands of years ago, Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and a well-known cultural phenomenon. Often referred to as Carnival or Carnaval, it is observed on the day before the start of the Lenten season in many nations, primarily those with sizable Roman Catholic populations.
Known as “Fat Tuesday,” this colorful event has its origins in medieval Europe and has developed into a lavish celebration of music, parades, and extravagance over the years. New Orleans is the most well-known place to celebrate Mardi Gras, with lively parades and beautifully decorated masqueraders filling the streets. Until dawn, both locals and visitors dance, sing, and celebrate to the beats of brass bands.
When Christianity arrived in Europe, the Mardi Gras festivals were transformed into religious holidays because it was easier to adapt the area’s long-standing practices into the new faith than to completely abolish them. These celebrations coincided with Easter. As a result, Mardi Gras evolved into the six-week season preceding Lent, the forty-day fasting period before Easter.
During an interview with Caleb Shaulis, a Lenape Tech student from LEIT, he said that, “I wouldn’t personally celebrate this holiday because I’m not Christian nor would I feel like dancing and singing for a day let alone six whole weeks.” Another student from Cosmetology, Indigo Bowser, she said “I think Mardi Gras is a cool celebration. It lasts for a very long time.” Whether a person celebrates the day or not, it’s still important to recognize the culture.
