Joyeaux Mardi Gras!

 

Any holiday involving pancakes is one in which our family readily partakes in. And today marks an extraordinary day in our Christian calendar, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.

For as long as I can remember, I have eaten a large plate of pancakes on this day.  Growing up Episcopalian, we usually ate this feast in the parish hall of our church. My mother handing out plates piled high of doughy pancakes as the fathers, including my own, were lined up in front of the stove and portable griddles making tons more. Lots of kids running around, in and out of the playground. This holiday was a perennial favourite - an evening to goof off from homework and chores - and to prepare for the days ahead.

Otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday, the last night of getting rid of rich fatty foods, indulging in guilty pleasures and staying up late before the penitential season of Lent begins the next day, on Ash Wednesday.

Usually on Sunday before this day, my mother would remind me that I was to select something to give up for Lent.  While most of the time I gave up something simple such as candy or Dr. Pepper, as I grew older, my mother encouraged me to give up nasty habits such as hair twirling, saying 'um, like, you know' and reading Tiger Beat. She also reminded me that if I broke my vow, I would need to place a quarter in the offering box to bring on Easter.

Needless to say, this offering box was rather full come Easter.

Whilst this popular practice of giving up one thing during the Lenten season was definitely daunting on me, I continued the practice throughout my life and foisted the ritual on roommates and boyfriends even if they were Jewish. I created a sort of game from the tradition - exchanging the punishing payment of the quarter to other things such as cleaning the toilet or fetching me stuff from the market. In many instances, as the others caught on, we tried to outdo each other in our plan to reduce our sins and indulgences.

As it stands today, while our kids usually come up with the similar removal of treats and habits, some have broken bad behaviours such as swearing and remembering to brush their teeth. Our generation has definitely become one that is full of modern conveniences and extravagances - so learning to do without for a few weeks is a practice I am willing to support.  I trust this year that the members of our family will give up something that is personally important and that will be missed for the 40 days we are without.  Self-denial of a simple pleasure.  Self-restraint of an annoying habit. Going without will not reverse one to an austere livelihood. It is a small sacrifice to learn the value of abstinence.  It is wisdom that comes from bare places.