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Fat Tuesday
Feb. 8th, 2005 12:18 pmFor all that I am a good catholic, and have a better understanding of our more obscure rituals than most people (Including other catholics...) Mardi Gras is a subject where my education is somewhat spotty.
For example; I didnt' know what a "King Cake" was until I bought one on Saturday night. It had a little blurb on the side explaining what it was and to watch out for the little plastic baby doll which had been baked into it somewhere.
Ok. I love the whole "Theres a prize in your cake" idea. I've never really participated in one of these, so I spent the extravagant amount of money for what is essentially a cherry stollen with a lot of sugar on top (and a BABY inside.)
Apparently, it's an oval cake commemorating the journey of the Three Kings (the Magi) who followed the star to the Christ Child. Apparently the "Mardi Gras Season" begins on Twelfth Night. Huh. So the Epiphany is the beginning of Mardi Gras? Sweeeet. Twelve days of Christmas followed by a month or more of partying? Sounds like a plan to ME.
I always figured that Mardi Gras was the Catholic World's answer to Lupricalia or the Bacchanalias of Greece and Rome. Coupled with the strategic position right before Lent (Forty Days of Sacrifice) we were bound to come up with a holiday wherein people are allowed to go a little crazy.
I intend to give up gratuitous sugar for Lent. What's more, I intend to celebrate this by purging the HOUSE of gratuitous sugar. Who wants some candy?
Why do I do this? I'm a sugar addict. Really. It's nice to get off the "horse" once a year. It's not an attempt to lose weight or anything, just a movement toward health. Besides, it's an appropriate sacrifice for a modern American, don't you think? We consume SO much sugar, even by ACCIDENT that it boggles the mind.
Perhaps I should send my candy and sweets to the troops overseas? To hungry children in Africa? To a local teacher or school?
Feel free to make suggestions...
And in the mean time... MMMMmmm. King Cake.
For example; I didnt' know what a "King Cake" was until I bought one on Saturday night. It had a little blurb on the side explaining what it was and to watch out for the little plastic baby doll which had been baked into it somewhere.
Ok. I love the whole "Theres a prize in your cake" idea. I've never really participated in one of these, so I spent the extravagant amount of money for what is essentially a cherry stollen with a lot of sugar on top (and a BABY inside.)
Apparently, it's an oval cake commemorating the journey of the Three Kings (the Magi) who followed the star to the Christ Child. Apparently the "Mardi Gras Season" begins on Twelfth Night. Huh. So the Epiphany is the beginning of Mardi Gras? Sweeeet. Twelve days of Christmas followed by a month or more of partying? Sounds like a plan to ME.
I always figured that Mardi Gras was the Catholic World's answer to Lupricalia or the Bacchanalias of Greece and Rome. Coupled with the strategic position right before Lent (Forty Days of Sacrifice) we were bound to come up with a holiday wherein people are allowed to go a little crazy.
I intend to give up gratuitous sugar for Lent. What's more, I intend to celebrate this by purging the HOUSE of gratuitous sugar. Who wants some candy?
Why do I do this? I'm a sugar addict. Really. It's nice to get off the "horse" once a year. It's not an attempt to lose weight or anything, just a movement toward health. Besides, it's an appropriate sacrifice for a modern American, don't you think? We consume SO much sugar, even by ACCIDENT that it boggles the mind.
Perhaps I should send my candy and sweets to the troops overseas? To hungry children in Africa? To a local teacher or school?
Feel free to make suggestions...
And in the mean time... MMMMmmm. King Cake.
