Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday is the last and one of the most celebrated days of the Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday is based on a European term Boeuf Gras defined as Beef Fat, and shrove is derived from the English word shrive, which means to seek forgiveness or absolution for a sins and repent. It is on this day during the pre-lent season that an individual should take time to reflect upon on their life in order to make some positive changes. This self-examination through prayer or mediation is a plea to ask God for spiritual growth in areas of one's life in need of work.
Okay. Enough of the self-control! Unless a person lives in a small populated, backwards town in the Midwest or just plain broke, who really does take the time to reflect on their past. Or, maybe, an individual will want to enjoy a parade or two and stumble into one of those southern comfort parties, which brings out distasteful social habits, 24 hour incorrigible sexual lust, moral decay, over indulgence, and the superficial meaning of this pre-lent holiday.
Although the first Mardi Gras Party took place in Mobile, Alabama, it was not until around the 1830's that the city of Mobile laid claim to the first Mardi Gras parade. Further South in New Orleans a group of local businessmen founded this city's first Mardi Gras parade in 1856. There were 16 of these men pushing a very large bull's head on wheels. Eventually, the bull received the name Rex, which later defined the first parade as the Rex Parade. The name Rex became a signature for the body of men as well as the bull. As other organizations entered the parades on Fat Tuesday, these associations tried to upstage each other.
So, Rex decided to parade an actual bull draped in white. What was an act of one-upmanship became a distinct symbol to an end of the pre-lent festivities and the beginning of lent with all of its ceremonial customs. In 1872, Rex also established the colors of the Mardi Gras. According to local folklore, since the word Rex was Latin for King, the organization said that a kingdom needed a flag. Rex decided that the official colors of the flag should be green, gold, and purple. Subsequently, Louisiana Governor Warmouth declared Fat Tuesday a holiday in 1875.
Later, the Rex association and other organization formed secret societies call Krewes that were responsible for the Mardi Gras parades. All of the parades are fun to watch, but it is the Rex Carnival Krewe that is well-known for its day-time parade on Fat Tuesday. So, on this day of petro not being the only thing pumped at the gas station, 24 hour bar hopping, the loss of self-control, and juiced customers stumbling through the supermarket's liquor aisles, think about how I can change my life for the good the day after Fat Tuesday, which is Ash Wednesday.
