For those who have recovered from their hangovers and may want to know "why" they abused their body and mind over the last few days the following information may help to add some dignity to their fractured spirit. At the very least it helps place their debauchery in historical context.

Carnival
From the Latin carnivale, loosely translated as "farewell to flesh"; the season of merriment in New Orleans which begins annually on January 6, the Twelfth Night (the feast of the Epiphany), and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday; the Carnival season leads up to the penitential season of Lent in which fasting replaces feasting.

While Mardi Gras has become a broad and varied celebration, many of Carnival's symbols, images, sights and sounds can be traced to the traditions of the Rex Organization, founded in 1872. Rex's traditional colors of purple, green, and gold, have become Carnival's colors, and "If Ever I Cease to Love," played for Rex since the very first Rex parade, has become its most enduring anthem. A more recent contribution to Mardi Gras tradition was the introduction of specially struck coins or doubloons as parade throws. The gold Rex doubloon continues to be a sought-after throw on Mardi Gras day.

The emblem of Carnevale was, literally, the mask, a term that could apply to the wearer as well as to the object, attesting to the depth of identification of individual with disguise. The masks of Carnevale derived most immediately from the masks worn on stage in the traditional commedia dell'arte and more distantly from masks worn in traditional societies, and shared with the latter certain basic characteristics thought to be universal to the practice of masking: simultaneously an act of simulation or mimicry and of disguise, masking could be alienating and transporting, intoxicating and liberating.

Since the middle ages there have been celebrations and feasts leading up to the forty day Lenten fast. One of the oldest symbols of these ancient pre-Lenten celebrations was the boeuf gras, signifying the last meat consumed before the fast begins. This symbol had a place in the earliest celebrations of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and for the first thirty years the boeuf gras was part of the Rex parade. For some reason it disappeared from the parade after 1900, but was restored in 1959. Traditionally the float carrying the boeuf gras and masked riders dressed as cooks is one of the lead floats of the parade.

Holy Week ends the 40-day period of Lent and is the most sacred time of the year in Mexico. During this time, there are numerous activities, such as religious processions and decorations on the sidewalks with flowers. People may create small altars and palm crosses are ubiquitous. In Cholula (Puebla), with its host of churches, the Passion Processions pass over vast carpets of flowers.

No, I'm not fasting although I certainly could afford to lose some pounds! I'm off to New York City for the Comic Book Convention at the Javits Center this weekend. Hope to come back with useful information, ideas and pictures.

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