Thursday, January 31, 2008
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Thursday, January 31, 2008 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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Close to Nowhere Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) is the final day of Carnival, though the term is often used incorrectly to describe the days and weeks preceding Fat Tuesday. Carnival begins 12 days after Christmas, or Twelfth Night, on January 6 and ends on Mardi Gras, which always falls exactly 47 days before Easter. Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday is a day when people eat all they want of everything and anything they want as the following day is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a long fasting period for Protestants. In addition to fasting, some also give up something special that they enjoy. So, Fat Tuesday is a celebration and the opportunity to enjoy that favorite food or snack that you give up for the long Lenten season. Hence we have Pancake Day. Can you imagine anything better than a day for pancakes? On Pancake Day (or Fat Tuesday or Mardis Gras) you’re supposed to eat up all the “fat” things up in your pantry -- milk, eggs, etc. Sounds like a really good way to spend a Tuesday to me! The last several years or so, I’ve seriously given something up for Lent. The first year, I gave up cursing, putting aside a nickel to give to my church for every curse word (I only have three words or so, but I still shouldn’t say them). One year, I gave up buying fabric for Lent. That one was hard, even though I have enough fabric to open my own fabric store. I think that I gave up fabric again last year, but to be perfectly honest, I can’t remember. This year, I’m going to have to give up more than just not buying fabric. I’ve cut way back on that already as I can’t fit anymore in. I’m on the verge of deciding to give up buying anything quilt related. Patterns, gadgets, fat quarters -- even thread. It’s funny, but I love thread. There are so many really pretty colors and textures. Right at the moment, I’m having lots of fun with variegated threads. One of the reasons I’m somewhat reluctant to give up quilt-related buying is that Jane and I are headed to the Mississippi Quilt Guild gathering in Natchez on Feb. 16. There will be vendors there and all the attendees are asked to support the vendors, who go to all the trouble to come and set up just to make all us quilters really happy. In addition, a friend and I are making a quilt for a graduation present. We have to get special fabric for that. I guess I really need to talk to a Lent expert. Or, face the fact, that if I’m going to give something up, I have to “just do it.” After all, it’s supposed to be something meaningful. Maybe, on Fat Tuesday, after my pancakes, I’ll go on a huge fabric binge. Is that legal? |
        
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