The word "Lent" is from the Old English for spring, when the days lengthen and the sun shines longer (in the Northern hemisphere). In this sunny time, let us not think of Lent as some kind of shadow on our days, but rather a gestation or growing period for the blossoms of Easter: "Christians, bringing to fulfillment an instinct of most religions, have known that some period of mortification as a 'prayer of the senses' serves as a prelude to a spiritual rebirth."

Let us be reminded by our celebrations today that Lent is not eternal, because Christ conquered sin. The joy of Fat Tuesday will be once again part of our daily lives, with a renewed appreciation, only because Christ made this possible by His sacrifice! I saw a picture of people lying on the beach circulated over social media on D-Day one year, and it said "Your day at the beach brought to you by their day at the beach." The storming of the Normandy beaches was the bottom half of the picture. Lent is a reminder that the rest of the Liturgical year is a continual holiday away from Original Sin and eternal suffering, brought to us by Christ's agony and death, and it is simultaneously a reminder that we must share in His suffering. It is only the smallest taste of what Christ endured, but I know that that is plenty for myself to handle.

For many, the day before Ash Wednesday is a very special celebration, the last day of "Carnival/Carnaval" in several places around the world—a word that has been handed down from the Latin carnem levare, "to take away the flesh," in other words, to abstain from meat. We call this day "Mardi Gras" or, literally, "Fat Tuesday." In England it is known as "Shrove Tuesday," derived from the past tense of "shrive," which means "to confess." By extension this meaning also includes penance and absolution, two of the great themes of Lent. Shrovetide is the period from the last Sunday before Lent to Fat Tuesday. "While this was seen as the last chance for merriment, and, unfortunately in some places, has resulted in excessive pleasure, Shrovetide was the time to cast off things of the flesh and to prepare spiritually for Lent."

There are many commonalities between the Fat Tuesday traditions of different countries. One of these is the making of various pastries or sweets that will use up eggs and milk, as in the old days Lent was not only a period of abstinence from meat, but from all animal products. This is one of the reasons that eggs are a symbol of Easter; the other reason is that the life they hold inside their shells is a perfect allegory of the living Christ coming out of the tomb. The practice of using up dairy products is what gave rise to Shrove Tuesday's alternate title of "Pancake Day" in Britain. In Denmark, Sweden, and Norway it is referred to as Fastelavn and traditional pastries called "semla," a kind of bun filled with cream and almond paste, are baked and enjoyed. In Scandinavia, this holiday is in particular a time for children's and family games. So there we have it—what is universally required for this day is a lot of fun and, dare we say, food!

Newfoundland, Canada

In Newfoundland they also have the tradition of baking pancakes, with a little twist. Among the "dry ingredients" are household objects such as rings, thimbles, thread, and coins! These are not meant to be choking hazards, rather they are supposed to be filled with meaning for family members (mainly for children). If you get a ring, then you are to be married first; coins presage riches, and sewing utensils a career as a tailor or seamstress, or perhaps the career of your spouse!

UK

Not only did the UK coin the name "Pancake Day," they also coined the Pancake Race, a competition in which they certainly have the lead. Apparently this tradition comes from the story of a woman baking pancakes for Shrove Tuesday so furiously that she forgot about church until the bells were ringing. She ran, frying pan in hand, flipping a pancake lest it burn! And this is exactly what you do in a pancake race.

Binche, Belgium

In celebration of the coming of spring, the Belgians added some target practice to their merrymaking—the tradition of throwing oranges at the crowd is essential to Fat Tuesday festivities! Supposedly, this dates back to the 14th century, when performers called "Gilles," wearing masks, bright-color costumes, and wooden clogs marched the streets with brooms (to chase evil spirits away) and an arsenal of oranges (to chase annoying neighbors). The Gilles themselves don't have it so bad with a traditional breakfast of oysters and champagne before their fruit-tossing ritual.

Nice, France

The Carnaval de Nice is one of the largest celebrations in the world. It has boasted over 80 floats and over 1,000 musicians and dancers and lasts 15 days. They also claim it is one of the oldest, dating back to 1294. Flowers are a central part of the festivity—whole floats are made of flowers and the Bataille des Fleurs, or the "Battle of the Flowers," ensures that the crowds are covered in petals.