Mardi Gras ( fr. Mardi gras , literally - "fat Tuesday") - Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Catholic Lent , the last day of the carnival [1] . The holiday, which marks the end of seven "fat days" (analogue of Omnivorous week ). Fat Tuesday implies the last night before the start of the fast.
| Mardi gras | |
|---|---|
 Mardi Gras Rag poster. 1914 | |
| Type of | folk Christian |
| Value | zagovhenie on Lent , the first meeting of spring and farewell of winter |
| Celebrated | French speaking Europeans and Italians |
| date | |
| In 2018 | February 13 |
| Celebration | carnival processions, fun , dancing, games |
| Traditions | bake pancakes |
| Associated with | the beginning of Lent |
The name is distributed mainly in French-speaking countries and regions. It is celebrated in many countries of Europe, in the USA and in other countries. Of the cities of the United States, the most massive and magnificent celebrations take place in New Orleans . In English-speaking countries, it is called Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday ("confessional, fat Tuesday "); analogue of East Slavic Maslenitsa .
Content
Basic Information
The tradition of Mardi Gras goes back to pre-Christian pagan rituals: the conduct of Winter and the meeting of Spring, the election of the king and queen (the original images of the Father and Mother, images characteristic especially of Celtic culture) of the holiday, the burning of the totem doll, eating solar symbols [2] (in Russia - pancakes, as a memorial food), etc. After the Christianization of Europe, many cults and holidays were assimilated by the new creeds. The tradition of carnival celebrations is very much alive in many countries of Europe and America. In Europe, traditional sweet ("fatty") sweets are prepared for the holiday: cakes, cream buns, donuts, pancakes.
In the US, the more common French name is Mardi Gras . Initially, it was a costumed presentation on the occasion of the meeting of spring in the French quarter of New Orleans, causing the curiosity of onlookers. Over the years, the carnival became more crowded, bright colored platforms appeared, driven by horses.
The legend tells that the grand duke Alexey Alexandrovich , brother of the heir to the Russian throne, who is in love with American actress Lydia Thompson, followed her to New Orleans just before the holiday. The organizers of the carnival, having learned about the visit of the royal personage, prepared a special platform with the inscription "Rex" (king). Thus, Alexei Romanov was the king of the holiday.
According to this version, since then, namely since 1872, the canons of this noisy naughty, bright festival have finally been established: every year the carnival is headed by the "king" and "queen", who in masks and costumes ride on a huge decorated platform with their surroundings. In response to the traditional shouts of an excited crowd, “Throw us something!” They throw out large tin coins, plastic beads and other knickknacks.
See also
- Sydney Mardi Gras Festival
- Fat Tuesday
- Fastnacht
- Vastavyi
- Kurentovanie
- Bushuarash
- Carnival
- Pancake week
- Pie of the Magi
Notes
- ↑ Mardi Gras // Historical Dictionary of the Russian Language Gallicisms
- ↑ Mardi Gras . CATHOLIC RUSSIA. CATHOLICITY FROM A TO Z.