Winter 1997 Northwest Zydeco Newsletter Article:

What Is Mardi Gras?        by Tom Dempsey

The French phrase "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday," which is the last of a series of Carnival days before the Christian season of Lent begins. Originating in pre-Christian spring fertility rites, Carnival celebrations include masquerade balls, fantastic parades, and wild dancing in the streets. All Roman Catholic countries and communities celebrate Mardi Gras or Carnival. The world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans began in 1827 when visitors to Paris returned, and brought back the idea of a French-style carnival before Lent.
          The winter party season called Carnival begins January 6 and lasts through Mardi Gras. January 6th is also known as Epiphany, or Twelfth Night (12 nights after Christmas). On different years, the date of Mardi Gras can range from February 2 to March 9, as it is 46 days prior to Easter Sunday. The date of Easter varies with solar and lunar cycles, and as a result, Carnival may last anywhere from 28 to 63 days. According to ancient Catholic formula, Easter is the first Sunday on or after the first full moon that follows the spring solar equinox.

Mardi Gras Celebration Tips Mardi Gras festivities usually last for 3 to 7 days up to and including Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday falls on the following dates: February 11, 1997; Feb. 24, 1998; Feb. 16, 1999; March 7, 2000; Feb. 27, 2001.           If you prefer celebrations on a grand scale, try the world’s largest Mardi Gras festivals held in the following cities: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Call PRO-BRAZIL (212) 997-4070. New Orleans, Louisiana. Tourism information 1-800-672-6124. www.icorp.net/carnival/ www.mardigrasneworleans.com/ www.neworleansonline.com/mg-cover.htm Mazatlán, Mexico. Cologne, Germany. But if you wish to avoid the crowded Carnivals of large cities, visit the smaller celebrations such as the colorful Mardi Gras festivals held in Aruba, Trinidad, Carriacou Island (Grenada), Nice (France), and Binche (Belgium).           Zydeco/Cajun music fans can visit various small towns in Louisiana for Mardi Gras celebrations held by local French Creoles & Cajuns: Lafayette, Mamou, Eunice, Iota, Church Point, New Iberia, St. Martinville, Grand Marais, Loreauville, Broussard, Franklin, and many more. You can plan your trip with: A Zydeco Dancer's Guide to Louisiana on our home page, www.scn.org/rec/zydeco.           In Seattle, you can celebrate in Pioneer Square, a tradition since 1977, or at several Cajun/zydeco dances across the city.

In the Christian religion, Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, a time of confession, penitence, and absolution in preparation for Lent. The three to seven days prior to Lent are also a last opportunity to indulge in fun, food, and drink before the onset of fasting and abstinence.
          Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, follows Fat Tuesday. Back in the fourth century, Christians decided to observe Lent by eating sparingly 40 days before Easter, the festival which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent season lasts 46 days — the 40 days of Lent, plus the six interspersed Sundays which are non-Lenten "festival" days. (However, in Eastern world Christian churches, Lent season lasts eight weeks before Easter, and the date of Easter rarely matches the West due to their non-Gregorian calendar.)
          Since Pope Paul VI’s apostolic constitution of February 1966, the Roman Catholic church now requires fasting and abstinence during Lent only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Good Friday, originally known as "God’s Friday," is the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion, occurring two days before Easter Sunday.