Well, Mardi Gras has come and gone, and I hope everyone had fun. For those of you that have just moved to the Deep South and might not know what the heck all the hoopla was about this past Tuesday, let me explain. Mardi Gras is a festival that is celebrated on a Tuesday shortly before the end of February in some countries. However, nowhere is it more famously celebrated than in New Orleans. It’s celebrated on a day that is commonly known as Fat/Shrove Tuesday and is marked by fun, feasting and a whole lot of partying. It’s customary to wear beads on Mardi Gras, although I’m not sure exactly who or what started that tradition and when; I’ll have to get back to you on that one. Mardi Gras was formerly a religious holiday, but is now known as the feast before the fast. The fast that I’m referring to is that which many Christians observe the day after Mardi Gras, which is Ash Wednesday. This marks the transition into the season of Lent.
What is Lent? Lent is the forty days preceding the Easter weekend. It begins on Ash Wednesday, when many Christians go to church for a service of repentance, during which they are anointed with ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. As the minister traces the ash cross on one’s forehead, the minister may say, “Remember that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return,” or a similar message. This is part of what God said to Adam after he and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It is a reminder to all of us that no one is perfect, but we should do what we can to live the life God wants us to live. Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday through Good Friday. During this forty day period or shortly after Easter, Jews celebrate the Passover, which commemorates the beginnings of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. The highlight of the Passover week for Jews is a traditional dinner called the seder, which is a prayer service and dinner all in one basically. Usually the main course of this meal is a leg of lamb and unleavened bread. Believe it or not, more than ever, even Christians are starting to get into this Jewish tradition during Holy Week. As a matter of fact, St. Francis Church, the Catholic church on campus, will have a seder dinner sometime during Holy Week. I think I might go this year if I can get a ride.
Lent culminates for Christians all around the world during the week immediately before and including the Easter weekend, which is known by many as Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday. The Sunday before Easter Sunday is traditionally called Palm Sunday because on that day, Christians commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, during which thousands of people followed him and waved palm branches in the air in celebration. It’s like when we follow Nick Saban and the team from the Walk of Champions into Bryant-Denny Stadium before a big game and we wave pompoms in the air. Many churches have a procession into the sanctuary, during which worshippers similarly carry palm branches. The day before Good Friday is known as Holy/Maundy Thursday, the day which commemorates the Last Supper. Then there’s Good Friday, when Christians all over the world commemorate the Passion and crucifixion of Christ. Christians believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. Many fast on Good Friday. Holy Saturday is Easter’s Eve. On that night some churches may hold services in which new converts are baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion for the first time. Finally of course there’s Easter Sunday, when believers joyfully celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.
For many, Lent is a time for charitable giving and personal sacrifice, which can change one’s life for the better in the long run. Some may choose to give up a bad habit or something that isn’t always healthy or good for them, like cussing, smoking, alcohol and sweets. Some people find that once they’ve gotten used to not doing those things, it becomes a habit to not do those things, and therefore they’ve changed their life and the lives of others for the better. Some may also choose to be more involved with their church or synagogue or even their mosque. In fact, you can choose to be more involved in your community or school of all things. I invite you to think about what you can do to improve your life and the lives of others this Lent. As we go through Lent, may all of you find this season to be an enriching one for you. I will keep you posted about the goings on at the different houses of worship on and near campus, as well as ways you can help throughout the community and right here on campus as we go through this season of Lent. Of course I will always continue to keep everyone posted on what’s going on on campus as well, in case you wish to become more involved in your school. ROLL TIDE!
-David Rissling
