Are you prepared to don the green, purple, and yellow with a blotch of red? Are you ready for revelry and debauchery?
Being a non-Catholic, I have chosen to experience neither the indulgences of Mardi Gras nor the austerity of Lent. But in today’s post, we will take a glimpse at the polarity between the Sacred and the Profane.
From HISTORY.COM
Mardi Gras is traditionally celebrated on “Fat Tuesday,” the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.
Mardi Gras 2024 will fall on Tuesday, February 13.
Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia.
When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the rich, fatty foods—meat, eggs, milk, lard and cheese—that remained in their homes, in anticipation of several weeks of eating only fish and different types of fasting.
The word carnival, another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, also derives from this feasting tradition: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat, from the Latin carnem for meat.
PRINCIPAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR 2024
First Sunday of Advent December 3, 2023
Ash Wednesday February 14, 2024
Easter Sunday March 31, 2024
The Ascension of the Lord [Thursday] May 9, 2024
Pentecost Sunday May 19, 2024
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ June 2, 2024
First Sunday of Advent December 1, 2024
The Sacred is a representation of the eternal, the divine, and the ultimate truth that surpasses human comprehension. The Sacred embodies a higher realm of existence, beyond the limitations and boundaries of human understanding. It is associated with the divine, the supernatural, and the transcendent, acting as a constant reminder of a higher power or fundamental truth. By acknowledging the Sacred, individuals recognize and respect something beyond themselves, fostering a connection to the eternal and an understanding that there are realities beyond our immediate perception.
While the sacred represents the divine, the profane encompasses mundane aspects of life. Without the profane, the sacred would lack context and significance. The profane provides a contrast against which the sacred can be defined and appreciated. It serves as a grounding force, reminding us of the ordinary and tangible aspects of our existence. By acknowledging and incorporating the profane, we are able to fully understand and experience the sacred, imparting greater depth and meaning to our spiritual and transcendent encounters. Therefore, the interplay between the sacred and the profane is essential in maintaining a holistic and harmonious life.
So during the upcoming week, while I do not plan to have a symbolic cross of ashes marked on my forehead, I may try to indulge in a bowl of New Orleans' gumbo.
Happy Mardi Gras!
CPW
P.S. Who personifies Mardi Gras more than James Carville?
