If you're feeling the urge to party-like-a-rock-star sometime before Easter, you best get it in today. For tomorrow brings 47 days - that's 40 days + 7 holy days depending on who you ask - of penitence, reflection, and the giving-up-of-a-vice-or-two-or-three. Hardly, a time to feel good about letting loose. So, go now! Indulge and then over-indulge some more! Live-it-up! Have a Phat, Phat, Fabulous Fat Tuesday! More on just how to do this in a moment.First, just what is Fat Tuesday?
Well, it's not a national day of questioning, "Does my butt look fat in these jeans?". If you have to ask, the answer is, "YES". Yikes, that's beside the point.
Fat Tuesday, English for the French word Mardi Gras, is also known as Shrove (confession)Tuesday in other parts of the world. Fat Tuesday marks the end of the Carnival season, which began way back on January 6th - the twelfth day of Christmas. Also known as Three Kings Day, this day celebrates the arrival of the wise men of the East bearing gifts for the infant Jesus. Many European and Latin American countries celebrate the Carnival season - the days between Three Kings Day and Lent - with parades, masquerade balls and feasts. Whew! Still with me?
Just what does all of this have to do with Easter? I'm so glad you asked. Remember those 47 days of self-imposed discipline mentioned above? Well, these just happen to be the days of Lent beginning with Ash Wednesday (tomorrow) leading up to Easter Sunday - the next reason to celebrate. Long story short, Fat Tuesday ties together Christmas and Easter, the two most significant events in Christian history. Holy-moly.
So, how does one have a Phat, Phat, Fabulous Fat Tuesday? My official answer would be by keeping in mind that (a) tomorrow will likely come, (b) it's a week (school) night, (c) repentance season is only 47 days long.
With that being said, here's a few Mardi Gras traditions:
(1) Adorn yourself in any of the three symbolic colors of Mardi Gras; purple for justice; green signifying faith; and gold representing power,
(2) indulge in a feast, which includes the traditional King Cake - a colorful, braided brioche with a surprise doubloon hidden inside for a lucky recipient to find,
(3) consider wearing a costume or perhaps just a tasteful feathered-mask - following the tradition of hiding one's identity so one can celebrate in the most festive of manners...
(4) and last but not least, you must indulge in the the n'leans-invented-tradition of wearing cheap beads. Lots and lots of long strands of cheap, plastic beads. Get enough for sharing - that is should another reveler show he/she is deserving of a throw of beads from you. This is when wardrobe-malfunctions resulting in the baring of breasts is most likely to occur.
Go now, my urban friends, party like there IS a tomorrow and begin to reflect on just what you'll be giving up for the next 47 days. "What will this urban girl be abstaining from?" you wonder. Hmmm...perhaps ill-timed fat butt jokes... just 47 days and counting down...I can do it, I'm pretty sure. Yes.
So, how does one have a Phat, Phat, Fabulous Fat Tuesday? My official answer would be by keeping in mind that (a) tomorrow will likely come, (b) it's a week (school) night, (c) repentance season is only 47 days long.
With that being said, here's a few Mardi Gras traditions:
(1) Adorn yourself in any of the three symbolic colors of Mardi Gras; purple for justice; green signifying faith; and gold representing power,
(2) indulge in a feast, which includes the traditional King Cake - a colorful, braided brioche with a surprise doubloon hidden inside for a lucky recipient to find,
(3) consider wearing a costume or perhaps just a tasteful feathered-mask - following the tradition of hiding one's identity so one can celebrate in the most festive of manners...
(4) and last but not least, you must indulge in the the n'leans-invented-tradition of wearing cheap beads. Lots and lots of long strands of cheap, plastic beads. Get enough for sharing - that is should another reveler show he/she is deserving of a throw of beads from you. This is when wardrobe-malfunctions resulting in the baring of breasts is most likely to occur.
Go now, my urban friends, party like there IS a tomorrow and begin to reflect on just what you'll be giving up for the next 47 days. "What will this urban girl be abstaining from?" you wonder. Hmmm...perhaps ill-timed fat butt jokes... just 47 days and counting down...I can do it, I'm pretty sure. Yes.
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