Why Does The World Celebrate Carnival, Which Is Also Known As Mardi Gras?
Temple of Saturn in Roman Forum
No one is quite sure when the celebration known as Carnival, or in New Orleans, Mardi Gras, began, but it was a long time ago. Well before written history. It is believed that it began as a primitive pagan festival honoring the start of a new year and a rebirth as new crops began to sprout in springtime. Evidence of one of the earlies forms of Carnival can be found at the ancient Forum in Rome. Here, still marked by 8 tall stone columns, is the Temple of Saturn, the most venerated temple in ancient Rome. It was here inside this temple that the Saturnalia celebration took place honoring the God Saturn. During this festival Roman social norms were overturned with wild merrymaking, gambling, drinking and whatever. Add to that mockery of authorities, costumes of the grotesque phallic body features, abusive language, and basically a general reversal of everyday rules and norms. Much of this continues to be a part of Carnival today
For the last couple thousand years, probably coinciding with the early days of Christianity, Carnival has taken place on the last days and hours before the Lenten season. Some scholars believe the celebration was so established that it had to be worked into the Christian Liturgical calendar to appease the people. It was placed just before the start of Lent. The last day and biggest day of Carnival is known as Shrove Tuesday. This is the last day before Ash Wednesday, which officially starts Lent fasting. Perfect. It allowed time for all to repent and get back to normal.
Dancers in Trinidad Carnival
As Christianity spread, so did Carnival, becoming popular around Europe, and eventually with peoples around the world. Some of the best-known elements of the festival that have evolved are carnal parades and masquerade balls. Examples are: the masks of Venice; The enormous costumes in Trinidad; and the 50,000 persons parade in Rio. The more Christian the country, the more popular is Carnival. The name of the celebration changed with the language. For example, it is Fastnacht in Germany and the French words for Shrove Tuesday translate as Mardi Gras. Thus, the reason for Mardi Gras in the French founded city of New Orleans.
One theory why Carnival stays popular is that it is a release for impulses that threaten the social order that ultimately reinforces social norms. Whatever. The bottom line –t Carnival is fun!
This year, 2020, Strove Tuesday will be February 25th. It is a wonderful time to celebrate Carnival in either New Orleans or Rome. And while there, see all of the fascinating sites using either the SelfTour™ French Quarter or the Eternal Rome GPS guided walking tour Apps.
