AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Day before lent11/23/2023 ![]() The faithful that make it through Lent can then indulge on Easter. While the sacrifices differ, the common idea is to abstain from certain pleasures or luxuries to mimic the temptation endured by Jesus in the desert. Lenten sacrifices often include chocolates, soft drinks, alcohol, meat, and even sinful behaviors such as swearing and sexual activities. It is customary for Christians to think about what Lenten sacrifices they will be making for the season. The values of self-reflection, simplicity, and sincerity are also emphasized during this time. What is commonly believed though is the concept of the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Even the way Lent is observed sees minor differences in different parts of the world. The time and duration of Lent vary according to different Christian denominations. In fact, the Council of Laodicea has deemed the Lent fast as “of strict necessity”. The only thing for certain is the fact that these 40 days of fasting before Easter was clarified at the Nicene Council. Over the years and centuries, there have been many proposed theories about the origin of Lent. ![]() The concept of fasting and forgoing indulgences such as alcohol, meat, and lacticinia during Lent was established by the Church. Early mentions of the season come from early Christianity, which records the tradition of fasting before Easter. These grew into the large carnival floats that take part today.The exact date of origin of Lent is difficult to pinpoint. When cars started becoming more widely available, they were made part of the carnival as away of displaying the performers. From the turn of the 20th century, people started to write fun marching songs to be sung during the carnival processions. This is when the carnival, like it is today, started. It consisted of people throwing flour and water over each other! In 1856 the police banned entrudo carnivals because they were becoming violent and lots of people were getting hurt. The Rio carnivals started over 250 years ago when the Portuguese settlers bought form of carnival called 'entrudo' with them. People from the local streets will often join the processions until a party starts! Apart from the main organised carnivals, there are small groups of people who go round the streets singing and dancing known as 'blocos' or 'bandas'. The most popular place to watch the parade is on the Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue, often called the 'Sambódromo' or 'Avenida do Samba' that mean Samba Avenue (the samba is a popular Brazilian dance). There are big floats, with stands for singing and dancing on built into cars or lorries that take part in the parade, they are decorated as brightly as the people and help make the procession look amazing! Sometimes the costumes are made on large wire structures so the people wearing them look very big, like butterflies or birds. ![]() People taking part in the parade dress up in very bright exotic clothes. In Rio, the streets are filled, over several days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, with large processions of people marching, singing and dancing. Some of the most famous are in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, New Orleans in the U.S.A., Venice in Italy and Sydney in Australia. Many countries round the world have Mardi Gras celebrations and carnivals. This means 'Fat Tuesday' in French and also comes from the idea of using up food before Lent. ![]() In other countries Shrove Tuesday is known as 'Mardi Gras'. towns and villages pancake races (where people race with a frying pan while tossing a pancake in it!) and pancake tossing competitions are held on Shrove Tuesday. The custom of making pancakes still continues today, and in many U.K.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |