Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Fat Tuesday
In my early twenties I heard a restaurant advertising "Fat Tuesday Specials" and had no idea what they were talking about. Basically it was translated as a really big party featuring lots of Cajun food held on one Tuesday a year. I still did not connect it with Lent, but knew it had to do with Mardi Gras.
Prior to that, a fat Tuesday just had to do with my female hormones!!
At my home, we are not religious about celebrating Fat Tuesday. Sometimes I use it as a good excuse to cook some yummy food and other times it passes by unnoticed.
This year, we are celebrating with a little old and a little new. I refer to my meal as a shrimp boil, but it is actually frogmore stew. I would serve jambalya, but my youngest son refuses to eat it. So instead, it is a shrimp boil that I will correctly call frogmore stew - that should give them something to think about!
I am also going to attempt a King Cake. My trusty Southern Living magazine has opened many a Southern door to my understanding. The following explains much to my novice attempts of celebrating:
"Trademark decoration - sugars in the royal colors of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power) - honor the three kings who visited the Christ child on Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas. Also known as King's Day, it marks the start of merrymaking that continues until the grand finale on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday."
Ok, so King Cake is probably meant for January 6th, but in our home it's happening today. Like I said, I am trying to get this season figured out.
I have decided that I will wear a bright green t-shirt today - it only seems appropriate. But I will forego the beads. . .
simple faith
In my early twenties I heard a restaurant advertising "Fat Tuesday Specials" and had no idea what they were talking about. Basically it was translated as a really big party featuring lots of Cajun food held on one Tuesday a year. I still did not connect it with Lent, but knew it had to do with Mardi Gras.
Prior to that, a fat Tuesday just had to do with my female hormones!!
At my home, we are not religious about celebrating Fat Tuesday. Sometimes I use it as a good excuse to cook some yummy food and other times it passes by unnoticed.
This year, we are celebrating with a little old and a little new. I refer to my meal as a shrimp boil, but it is actually frogmore stew. I would serve jambalya, but my youngest son refuses to eat it. So instead, it is a shrimp boil that I will correctly call frogmore stew - that should give them something to think about!
I am also going to attempt a King Cake. My trusty Southern Living magazine has opened many a Southern door to my understanding. The following explains much to my novice attempts of celebrating:
"Trademark decoration - sugars in the royal colors of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power) - honor the three kings who visited the Christ child on Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas. Also known as King's Day, it marks the start of merrymaking that continues until the grand finale on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday."
Ok, so King Cake is probably meant for January 6th, but in our home it's happening today. Like I said, I am trying to get this season figured out.
I have decided that I will wear a bright green t-shirt today - it only seems appropriate. But I will forego the beads. . .
simple faith
Labels: Lent
# posted by simple faith : 10:03 AM
