Here we go again, the start of Lent and my pledge to give things up.
For those of you that don’t know, my Dad grew up in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana. My Grandfather was also raised Catholic before he converted to Mormonism and my Dad attended Catholic School for a while. Most of my family still lives around Lousisiana, but after the devestating effects of Hurricane Katrina, and the flooding of my grandparents home, we don’t go to NOLA as often.
HOWEVER… I still love love love almost everything about New Orleans. I love d’all de lil’ shacks dat we know to go eat at. I love Cafe’ Du Monde! I love Central Grocery and eating me fill of MUFFALETTA! I love bartering wit da Indian workers at da French Market. I love boilin crawfish and eating dem off newspaper in de summer heat!
(P.S. If you aren’t catching on or have never heard my Dad talk/text it sounds like dis!)
But most of all I love Mardi Gras also known as Carnival Season! WhooHoo! Ahh the Purple, Green, & Gold!!! Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French and is a day of celebratory events so everyone can party. There are floats that line the city and throw out beads, masks, and boas to all. It also falls the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Lent is from Ash Wednesday (TODAY) until Easter April 24. Traditionally Catholic, it is a time to sacrifice for Jesus and prepare the believer. It is 40 Days long, not including Sundays (47 Days) that represents the time according to the Bible that Jesus spent in the desert and endured being tempted by Satan. Likewise, you are suppose to give up something that may be difficult for you. It is not just about giving something up but it suppose to better or discipline yourself.
LENT LIST:
2011 – Thinking Negatively & Candy
2010 – Facebook & Eating Out (saved a lot of money and a lot of time)
2009 – Desserts (almost died..)
2008 – Fast Food (I didn’t eat a hamburger for 2 years after this)
2007 – Chocolate (lost like 20 pounds! no i actually weighed the same)
2006 – Ice Cream (emotional roller coaster)
2005 – Cokes (‘Soda’ for non-southern people aka Yankees) (to this day i don’t like cokes that much)
2011 – Thinking Negatively & Candy
2010 – Facebook & Eating Out (saved a lot of money and a lot of time)
2009 – Desserts (almost died..)
2008 – Fast Food (I didn’t eat a hamburger for 2 years after this)
2007 – Chocolate (lost like 20 pounds! no i actually weighed the same)
2006 – Ice Cream (emotional roller coaster)
2005 – Cokes (‘Soda’ for non-southern people aka Yankees) (to this day i don’t like cokes that much)
Mardi Gras was always my favorite time of year, because my Mom would cook a huge great cajun meal and we would wear masks (my Mom collects them) and eat King Cake! There is a small plastic baby that is inserted into the King Cake and whoever gets the slice of cake with the baby in it is the King or Queen of Mardi Gras and brings the cake the next year! It is so much fun and I brought this tradition out to BYU with me. This year Mardi Gras fell right in the middle of Nationals so I am postponing my party for a week. But my 3rd Annual should be a hit! 🙂
2011 Lent, Cameron decided to participate with me which was so sweet to take on my traditions and he is giving up video games!