Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Carnival, Carnevale, and Fasnacht Day is the last weekday before Lent begins.  It arose in an age when Lent was surrounded by a variety of restrictions on food and activity.  For example, the eating of meat, eggs, and dairy products were limited as were activities such as dancing, cards, music. and drama.  (Carnival comes from the Latin meaning "farewell to meat.)

So, the days before Lent began were the days when you did everything you wouldn't be able to do for the next 40 days.  You celebrated and caroused.  You ate rich foods (like pancakes and the cakey dounghnuts called fasnachts) that used up the butter and eggs in your home.

If you think about it, in an agrarian economy, this made a lot of sense.  As winter turns to spring, frivolity turns to the hard work of preparing tools and land for the spring planting.  Animals are prepating to give birth, so doing without dairy lets them stengthen their young.  The meat stored for winter is almost gone, so limiting its use is wise.  The traditional lenten foods, therefore, are fish which are available year round and easily salted for long periods, bread (since wheat and corn store well), and basic vegetables like potatoes, cabbage, and roots that store through the winter and are filling.

By the time Easter comes (April 4th this year), the first greens may be ready to harvest and meat will again be available (especially the traditional Easter meats of ham and lamb).

Today, we no longer live by agrarian rhythms.  However, we can choose to take some time to live more simply, in tune with the rhythms of the planet, whether we are religious or not.  In the days ahead, I'll look at some possibilities.