Today is Fat Tuesday, the culmination of the famous season of Mardi Gras.
Debauchery. Bacchanalia. Floats, costumes, beads and masks, and lots of drinking and partying. That’s what we think of when we hear the term Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.
There is a lot more behind it. Also called Shrove Tuesday, it marks the last day of the liturgical calendar before Lent begins.
After Catholicism spread throughout Europe, many cultures celebrated the final day before Lent began in ways unique to that individual culture. Eggs, and milk were finished off in one day, giving rise to the term Fat Tuesday. In Poland, such things as lard, sugar, eggs, and fruit were forbidden during Lent, and the beloved pączki became a special treat for Fat Tuesday. In Detroit they still sell many thousands of them to long lines of people.
Enjoy your Fat Tuesday, and spare a thought to the next forty days. Why not observe Lent, and use the time to more deeply appreciate Christ’s sacrifice and his love for us?
I am sure you’ve seen people on Ash Wednesday with a cross traced on their foreheads. Many churches have Ash Wednesday services, and all are welcome. It’s a thought provoking way to begin your journey, to center and prepare yourself to make changes, to clean out some baggage and make more room for the truly important things.
This is a repeat post. I hope you will join us the next weeks as we look toward Good Friday and the Cross, with the goal of making ourselves a little more able to celebrate on Easter Sunday.
Thank You, Lord, for all you have done for your children! I am SO grateful for the new Revival that is spreading throughout the colleges at the moment. As many probably know, it began at Asbury college approximately 13 days ago and in only 13 days more than 50,000 people have shown up from around the world. It has spread to OH, NC, AL, etc. I am grateful that I lived through the Jesus Revolution in the 70’s and the tremendous outpouring that began in Toronto in 1994. In these very tumultuous times, God has shown up! In addition, the movie: ‘Jesus Revolution’ opens at theaters in just a few days. Timing!
LK 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree:
29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
An early Happy Easter! to all.
Perhaps this will be of interest to someone.
Great Lent, or the Fast, begins this coming Monday in the Orthodox Christian Church.
The fasting practices from that day through Pascha, the Lord’s Resurrection, are focused on fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Shellfish are permitted too. Meat and dairy foods and regular fish are not eaten during Great Lent.
Only on the Feast of the Annnunciation and Palm Sunday is regular fish allowed for eating.
The Paschalion, for the calculation of the date of the Resurrection celebrated by the Orthodox Church, is the same one as what the Christian Bishops adopted at the First Œcumenical Synod in Nicæa. Most of the world’s Orthodox Christians abide by the same Festal Calendar as the Bishops adopted at that same Synod in the year 325.
The ‘Great Lent or Fast’ results in Christians saving on food expenses. … The ‘savings’ are then used to help the poor, around the world. … ‘Lent Easter Boxes’ are still used, as a place for the ‘saved money’ ~ The Boxes are then collected in many Churches.
Amen 🙏 Pray for Peace the World over .