(Feb. 21, 2012) Today is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the last day of Carnival and the day before Ash Wednesday which begins the annual Christian penitential season of Lent in preparation for Easter. According to tradition, folks make merry, eating rich food and drinking, before the Lenten 40 days (not including Sundays) of fasting, prayer and selfless service.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the church tradition of placing ashes on the foreheads of Christians as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. It is a movable feast occurring 46 days before Easter (this year April 8) which is set for the first Sunday after the full moon after the vernal equinox. The ashes are derived from burning palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The Lenten season is in memory of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert before the start of his public ministry.
Read about this season and more in Recorder Community Newspapers and their blogs online here at newjerseyhills.com. Anyone interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers may e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com for more information on this free 21st century communication tool.
About Me
- Blog Central
- My husband, Jack, and I are blessed with five married children and 14 grandchildren, most of whom live less than two hours away. Jack is retired, but keeps busy with his computers and work on our country home. After many years on the editorial side of journalism, I now am helping folks enter the 21st century of the newspaper business -- online news via blogging. -- Pat Anderson
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