Mardi Gras is merrymaking before the fast according to the encyclopedia. What kind of religious roots does it have other than party hearty before you have to be good and religious? It seems that voodoo, paganism, exhibitionism, drunkenness and debauchery have always been a part of it.
I agree with the above comment. It seems that Mardi Gras has always been accepted as a way for people to party before Lent. I am not sure that Mardi Gras itself ever had any real religious significance. I am not sure even the Shrove Tuesday traditions have religious meaning beyond getting rid of things you aren't supposed to use during Lent!
But I don't think that most of today's revelers (sp?) even connect the celebrations with Lent, Easter, or a religious observance of any kind.
In that respect, I do believe that Mardi Gras has become disconnected with its religious roots, especially as it seems that fewer people seriously observe Lent each year.
Mardi Gras is merrymaking before the fast according to the encyclopedia. What kind of religious roots does it have other than party hearty before you have to be good and religious? It seems that voodoo, paganism, exhibitionism, drunkenness and debauchery have always been a part of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comment. It seems that Mardi Gras has always been accepted as a way for people to party before Lent. I am not sure that Mardi Gras itself ever had any real religious significance. I am not sure even the Shrove Tuesday traditions have religious meaning beyond getting rid of things you aren't supposed to use during Lent!
ReplyDeleteBut I don't think that most of today's revelers (sp?) even connect the celebrations with Lent, Easter, or a religious observance of any kind.
ReplyDeleteIn that respect, I do believe that Mardi Gras has become disconnected with its religious roots, especially as it seems that fewer people seriously observe Lent each year.