Eleanor Laville ‘28
Features Staff Writer
Happy belated season of Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras, translated to “Fat Tuesday” in French, is a Lenten celebration that is notably celebrated in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Venice. This year, Mardi Gras landed on February 17; however, the carnival season lasts for several weeks beginning immediately after Epiphany until midnight before Ash Wednesday. The main idea behind Mardi Gras is to indulge in rich, fatty, and sugary foods, and to celebrate with loved ones before the start of the Christian fasting season of Lent. In the same vein, many families outside of celebrating Mardi Gras engage in the tradition of cooking pancakes before their Lenten fast.
Growing up, I celebrated Mardi Gras in Washington, DC, influenced by my parents, who were both raised in Louisiana. When I was younger, my parents would host family and friends in our small row house, filling it with lively music and the aromas of delicious gumbo and king cake sent to us by a relative. These gatherings encapsulated the holiday’s aspects of community bonding and joy.
My mom was usually designated as the person who was to hide the tiny plastic Jesus in our king cake. A king cake is an oval-shaped, sweet, brioche-style pastry that is typically decorated with purple, green, and gold icing, the colors that represent justice, faith and power. Finding baby Jesus in a slice of king cake signifies luck and prosperity throughout the rest of the year for the finder. In my household, that person was crowned the king or queen of the party. In other households, the finder also carries the responsibility of hosting the next Mardi Gras party.
Because I wasn’t raised in Louisiana, I’m not entirely in-tune with the experience of festivities in New Orleans or the overall alacrity for Mardi Gras that occurs in the south. However, our very own President Rougeau has Cajun roots, and he graciously agreed to speak with me about his past experiences with Mardi Gras. We had a fruitful conversation about traditions, cultural melding, and the broad lessons we can learn from this celebration. President Rougeau shared that “my affection for Mardi Gras comes from those smaller town traditions,” as he was referring to the occasions when he would visit his grandparents in Mamou, Louisiana. He recounted that there would be a man who rode around the town on horseback collecting ingredients for gumbo that was to be shared with everyone. This tradition is called “Courrir de Mardi Gras” or “The Run of Fat Tuesday.” This communal tradition truly embodies the spirit of the holiday in a very holy way. We are all called to foster a loving community through acts of kindness and selfless giving. In the same way a person might offer up some Tony’s seasoning as their contribution, God calls us to come before Him humbly and offer what little we have to be used for a greater purpose.
To explore the richness and diversity of Catholicism, I asked President Rougeau how those ideas are reflected in Mardi Gras. In his response, he discussed the influences of numerous immigrant communities beyond those most commonly recognized. Spanish, French, Latin, and other communities, he explained, “have produced very distinct forms of worship and music, and so our Catholic faith is a global faith, and that comes together in really beautiful ways.” Our conversation then turned to the tradition of mask-wearing throughout carnival season. Historically, the mask allowed people of all different social classes to intermingle freely without fear of judgment. So, President Rougeau pointed out that wearing masks allows for people to let down their guard and feel a sense of safety, shifting the focus from status to shared humanity. In this way, it is evident that this is more than a festive custom, but it serves as a reminder of how community can be built across differences.
I asked President Rougeau whether Mardi Gras festivities have taught him anything or affirmed any previously held convictions. He shared that the celebration reminds him of the importance of reflecting on gratitude and joy, noting that “sometimes we take joy from the simplest of things — just being with people and community and celebrating what you have.” His words serve as a helpful reminder that the importance of finding joy when it’s difficult cannot be stressed enough, especially during this gloomy season, and as we witness hardship and suffering around the world. Additionally, he said that “it doesn’t take a lot to have a great Mardi Gras,” and this led me to recognize that although our celebrations in DC weren’t extravagant, they were joyful, and it gave us an opportunity to celebrate our loved ones.
Happy Mardi Gras! As we enter into the Lenten season of sacrifice, I invite everyone to continue to seek joy in life, especially during the periods that feel hopeless and depressing.
Copy edited by Caroline Kramer ’26
Featured image courtesy of The Courier Journal
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