Comments on: The Day After Fat Tuesday

By: c-kingsley

c-kingsley — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:50:44 +0000

I was once in Nice, France, when their “Carnival” was actually during Lent. They didn’t bother to move it around with the Church calendar anymore.

By: karinann

karinann — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:08:30 +0000

Enjoyed the article Matt. Unfortunately I think that sometimes the farther outside New Orleans you get the more pagan the celebrations become. Not everyone everywhere falls into this category- some of us do know what day is after Mardi Gras. But you are right everyone should. Have a Happy Mardi Gras and a Blessed Lent.

By: athanase

athanase — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:58:33 +0000

When it comes to holidays and culture, there are a lot of people who want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you are visiting Louisiana, I invite you to attend a family oriented parade–in Baton Rouge it would be the Mystic Krewe parade, or in the New Orleans area your best bet is to attend those parades in the suburbs like Metairie or on the West Bank, or even go to the small towns like Houma and Morgan City. If you go to Eunice you can observe the courirs de Mardi Gras–revelers on horseback who collect chickens for the gumbo. Use common sense and avoid the abuse in the French Quarter. Mardi Gras is no more an offensive holiday than Halloween, Christmas, or New Years. Be proud of your Catholic heritage.

By: digitaldeacon

digitaldeacon — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:00:32 +0000

I am originally from New Orleans and now live 70 miles North of the city. I take exception to this article because to paint Mardi Gras with a broad brush that all that happens is silly drunken, over-indulgent sin is incorrect. I have been to many parades and Mardi Gras days and have never done what was implied. Today I attended a parade in a small town of Bush, Louisiana which my daughter, son in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren where in the parade. We were there because like many others there, it is a family celebration. I saw no one drunk or doing anything that was sinful. I will admit that there are those in New Orleans who get drunk and do things they should not be doing, but to imply that everyone is there to do something sinful is untrue because for many, many people it a fun family event no different than the New Years Day Pasadena Parade, or any other parade around our country.

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Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:10:44 +0000

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By: dove4near

dove4near — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:49:31 +0000

Thank you! This is exactly what I was thinking as the celebration of Mardi Gras was mentioned on NBC News this morning. We have once again become a nation of pagan rituals, especially the younger generation.

For those who still observe the holy season of Lent, I apologize, I don’t mean you. I pray that we will, as a nation, observe this season of Lent as the Catholic Church intends it to be. In this time of turmoil and uncertainty, we, more than ever, need to turn to God with prayer and sacrifice.
May you have a holy and prayerful Lenten season.