Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday

Christians celebrate the upcoming of the resurrection of Jesus Christ with Lent. The sacrifice of a highly desired object or good is given up for an entire 40 days. This is all done for the preparation of the Holy Week and the feast that comes with it. "Lent is the opportunity to change what we ought to change but have not...Lent is about becoming, doing and changing whatever it is that is blocking the fullness of life in us right now." Although Lent is not the Bible, scholars can date fasting back to 325 A.D. When receiving the ashes, the priest whispers the words from Genesis 3:19. "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." Traditionally the Tuesday before, "Fat Tuesday", is when communities or churches hold a Mardi Gras similar to carnivals, for everyone. It is considered the people participating in the fasting to be their last hurrah.

Mardi Gras parades take place all over the world.