In many parts of the world, today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, one last day of whooping it up and eating before the abstemious fast of Lent. In the UK it's Shrove Tuesday, and nobody can remember what Shrove means. Secularly, it's known as Pancake Day - that's the limit of our whooping it up and eating - a pile of pancakes. And in my tradition, pancakes should be somewhere between the thick stuff Americans pour maple syrup over and a French-style crepe.
So we don't really do parties for this, it's a time at home for pancakes, sugar and lemon in front of the telly. But I had a more exciting Mardi Gras experience one, back in March 2011. I happened to be spending about 24 hours in Milwaukee on a month-long journey, coast to coast that was dipping all over the place. I'd just come in on a train from Seattle that had taken about 50 hours and the next day I would set off southwards for Austin, but this one day I was in the home of the Fonz and Happy Days!
My friend Tracy came and picked me up from the train station. I was staying in her basement that night, that's all I knew. But within a few minutes of driving through Downtown Milwaukee, she said "You don't have to do this, but would you like to come to a Mardi Gras party tonight?" and then without a beat, without waiting for my response "It's at my church?".
How could I refuse? And so my only real Mardi Gras party in the USA (ever!) was at a friendly little Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. It was amazing. There was fabulous food, candy galore, lots of laughter and home-made music. Tracy played the drums!
I had a fabulous time, met some quite evangelical young Lutherans and some who were a bit calmer about sharing their faith. We danced, shared beads, ate King cake and generally whopped it up in the least sinful way you can imagine. I even got a tattoo! Unfortunately it rubbed off on my pillow during the night, but for an evening I walked around looking totally badass (in my imagination at least)
What fabulousness! I'm from Wisconsin, went to university in Seattle, and love Mardi Gras (in New Orleans, though).
yes I hit New Orleans ten days later. My NOLA buddies were quite intrigued by the antics of their northern cousins :)
Today, here in the Philippines is Ash Wednesday as per culture and tradition of many catholics. They put the sign of cross in their forehead but yours was cool..
Shame you don't still have the tattoo. I've never celebrated Mardi Gras, but I do like a pancake
I know a few people who would have loved it if I'd actually got a rose tattooed to my forehead when I returned home.
Enjoy your pancakes tonight.
I've never committed to a tattoo. Not sure what I'd have. My son is currently making the pancakes
yes, I've heard it described as "like a t-shirt you'd want to wear every day for the rest of your life" - I haven't found anything I'm that enamoured with yet!
wow, a very cool tattoo, I really like the beauty of tattoos. Because the tattoo has its own meaning in every beauty. Thank you and wish you a wonderful day @lloyddavis ... :)
yep, no coincidences: "The beauty of this flower expresses promise, hope, and new beginnings" - that's exactly what was coming to me soon after :)
it is very nice @lloyddavis, hopefully all your dreams and hopes will be granted by god. Hopefully you will always get a happiness in every breath you. And hopefully you will have a beautiful day... :)
"..pancakes should be somewhere between the thick stuff Americans pour maple syrup over and a French-style crepe."
Finally, the perfect description :)
We've been having this back and forth on our discord channel today. We have Americans and Europeans on it. :)
Don't get me wrong, I like 'em all, but you've got to get your pancake day pancakes just right. Hope you've enjoyed some today :)
Oh absolutely :)
(part of) breakfast. And it played a part in Lunch and dinner too.
Now I'm back on my healthy eating haha.
Being a social sciences student this is a quite new thing for me Mardi Gras
Hey my friend Party hard and thanks for letting me know about it :)
Oh, ok, yes it's a Christian festival marking the period before the crucifixion and Easter. Easy for me to forget that I'm writing to a global audience with many different cultures reading.
Ah never mind it is human nature that we all forget sometimes my friend :) By the steemit is such a lovely platform it is really helping me to know different cultures and their backgrounds like i learnt today about yours <3
beautiful tatto @lloyddavis you look handsome
Beautiful tatto, red roses ...
Nice post.
look beautiful tatto you in my eyes @lloyddavis
very nice friends I like post @lloyddavis
very nice friends I like post @lloyddavis
I like the name 'fat tuesday'..
Sadly it's Wednesday already now and there's no time for whooping it up