I giggled when I read that my first guest blogger invitation from The Light Project was about Mardi Gras because I quit Mardi Gras a long time ago… or so I thought. But, I agreed to give the topic a chance since I believe that God is not a God of accidents and I wanted to see what the Lord had in store for me! Like always, He had a plan.
Many of the Church’s modern-day celebrations are adaptations of ancient Roman festivals. The early Church adapted these through the lens of Christianity in an effort to evangelize and convert the pagan culture, aligning their traditions with Christian feasts like Christmas, Epiphany, Valentine’s Day, All Saints and All Souls Day, and All Hallow’s Eve. These adaptations helped to move the culture toward faith in the one, true God.
The Carnival season begins with the Catholic feast of the Epiphany and lasts until Lent. The word “carnival” comes from the Latin word carne vale, which means “farewell to meat.” Mardi Gras, a term that means “Fat Tuesday,” refers to the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season in our Church. Typically, in South Louisiana, we refer to the entire season as Mardi Gras. Although some of the elements of Mardi Gras may seem to resemble ancient pagan celebrations, its real purpose is connected to the Catholic tradition of getting rid of butter, eggs, and meat on “Fat Tuesday” before Lent began. Feasting before the fast.
There is rich Christian symbolism found in many of the traditional elements of Mardi Gras. The King Cake celebrates the Epiphany, honoring the Three Kings, or magi, who visited the infant Jesus. The baby inside the cake is a nod to the infant Jesus as well. The colors of the season - purple, green, and gold - symbolize justice, faith, and power. And, the fleur-de-lis that is commonly used for Mardi Gras is a symbol that our Church has adopted for Our Lady.
Mardi Gras can be seen as both a celebratory & preparatory event in our Church and is a way to prepare for the Lenten season in our Church. Just as a traveler prepares well to gain strength before a long journey, we celebrate this season before entering the spiritual discipline of Lent. The Mardi Gras feast isn’t just about indulgence – it can be seen as a time of preparation, gathering what we need to sustain us for the road ahead.
Humans are wired for preparation – it’s in our nature. We plan menus for holidays, we buy gifts for Christmas, we send out invitations before a birthday party, and Mardi Gras is no different. Many people spend the season enjoying a variety of king cakes, shopping for the perfect ball gown, ordering and packaging float throws, or looking for the perfect parade accessories. In my case, I prepare every year for our trip out of town by buying groceries, packing clothes, making meals, and planning our outings. Even though I celebrate Mardi Gras very differently, it reminds us that preparation brings joy. It doesn’t feel like a chore to celebrate this season. No matter how it is celebrated, Mardi Gras is fun because we are ready for it!
The Carnival season is not simply excess for excess’s sake. It serves as a meaningful reminder to be prepared – both physically and spiritually – to fully embrace the Lenten fast as well as the transformation it will bring. What God revealed to me in my reading about Mardi Gras is that the best preparation isn’t just for a party, a holiday, or a trip – it’s for a life of grace. In the same way that I work to plan so much about our lives, especially for the holidays or our many family traditions, I should work just as hard to prepare for my Salvation, planning my life in the Sacraments. By planning ahead for Confession, attending Mass, praying in Adoration, scheduling my prayer time, completing a daily examen, and cultivating my faith, I can be prepared with joy and intention for the Feast that never ends.
So, while I may still “quit” Mardi Gras in the traditional sense (catch me in a different zip code when the parades roll through), I can’t ignore what it teaches me. Whether it’s packing for a trip or preparing my soul, the truth is, I’m always getting ready for something. And ultimately, the most important thing to be ready for isn’t a king cake or a parade—it’s Heaven. Now that’s a celebration worth planning for.
How can Mardi Gras be a time of both joyful celebration and spiritual preparation for Lent?
What traditions or rituals help you transition from feasting to fasting with intention?
Still looking for a Lenten Devotional this season? Join The Light Project for a six-week reflection as we journey to the Sacred Shores of our hearts, embracing the call to love and follow the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you'd like to learn more, visit Sacred Shores Pilgrimage.
Erin Hawkins Thomas is a wife to Josh, mom to 5, artist, designer, writer, speaker, and lover of all things creative. She has worked in and around the advertising and marketing scene while serving in Catholic ministry and education for the last 20 years. Coaching, mentoring, and teaching hundreds of young adults while serving in different roles both in the classroom and in school leadership has gifted her the experience of leadership, relationship building, communication, empathy, and self-discovery. She has been writing and speaking for young people, Catholic parishes, magazines, websites, parent groups, and more for over two decades. In an authentic and powerful way, she invites others into her journey of grief, trauma, and healing after experiencing significant loss and surviving a fatal car accident. In 2022, she followed God’s call out of the classroom and into full-time ministry for a brief season before launching Erin Thomas Creative in 2024. Now, she partners with Catholic businesses, using her expertise in design and marketing to bring their missions to life. Her vast array of talents and passions allow her to pour into people and missions of all kinds. Her greatest joy is discovering the beauty of a life well-lived and extending that invitation to others.
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