Mardi Gras appears at the local high school
Crownover is happy — Dan Crownover received his beads and beams with pride. (Anne Sutherland)
The definition of the term Mardi Gras varies from place to place but at Italy High School, it means having fun in the library.
Librarian Sharan Farmer hosted the third annual Mardi Gras party in the IHS library Tuesday, which in other places traditionally is also called Fat Tuesday. King cakes were provided to most classes; however, with so many students wanting to participate, the cake was eaten quickly.
Each cake contained several plastic babies baked inside. If a student was lucky enough to receive the prize piece, their library fines were dismissed. Also, each student received some sparkly beads to wear.“This is our third year having Mardi Gras and the kids love it”, said Ms. Farmer. “Today, the students came in at the end of first period and ‘the storm’ began. They were lined down the hallway around the library,” Farmer said. The students continued to visit the library for several hours. Each receiving beads to wear for the celebration.
Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, refers to celebrations beginning on or after the Epiphany (a Christian holiday celebrating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, 12 days after Christ’s birth) and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. Arriving in North America as a French Catholic tradition, it involves the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which starts on Ash Wednesday. Widely recognized in New Orleans and other destinations around the world, costumed musicians, masks, costumes and parades are included.
The Mardi Gras King cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th Century. The cakes were made to honor the three wise men who were bringing gifts twelve days after Christmas, calling it the feast of the Epiphany, Twelfth Night or King’s Day and was also made circular to portray the route used by the kings to get to the Christ child, confusing King Herod, who was trying to follow and attempting to kill the Christ child. Today, in Lousiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the beginning of the carnival season, which ends on Mardi Gras Day. Each cake is baked with a prize inside. In this case, the cake was baked with a plastic baby found in the King cake represents the Christ child.
At Italy High School, Ms Farmer says, “We’re just having fun.”