Septuagisima, Shrovetide, Carnival ... how do you pre-Lent?

[C.Ray]

I come from a family from the southern Gulf Coast of the United States where Mardi Gras decorations go up the moment the Christmas decorations come down.

Since I live now on the west coast, there isn’t much in the way of Mardi Gras. There are a few themed events here and there, but for the most part people don’t have the slightest idea that Lent is on the way. They’ll be surprised one Wednesday afternoon when they see a few people with smudges and think “what is that? oh, it must be Ash Wednesday!”

With that in mind, do you observe the pre-Lenten period in any way?

 

[StudentMI]

I’ve always found the culture around the Gulf area fascinating, including the festivities you mentioned. Around here the most people seem to do is buy paczkis (despite being from this area I still had to look up how to spell that). Would be fun if there was more to it.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

They’ll be surprised one Wednesday afternoon when they see a few people with smudges and think “what is that? oh, it must be Ash Wednesday!”

That’s pretty much how it goes around here - if they can even figure it out then.

 

[jeannetherese]

The Latin Mass community draws attention to Septuagesima as preparation for Lent and, I am seein renewed interest in celebrating the Christmas feast for many weeks beyond the 25th of December as Christmas trees remain up in homes and creches in churches.
It is exciting seeing Catholics reclaiming these tradiitons and refocusing upon the Liturgical calendar as a means of orienting their lives towards Christ.

 

[maryjk]

Sorry, I live in the Southeast. We do parades, “balls” and the like.

Well, other people do.

I realize that lent starts when I hear the Ash Wednesday mass times.

 

[TheMortenBay]

I like to see Septuagesima as a spiritual preparation for Lent. So I say the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary and I start my spiritual fast (less TV, more reading and prayer time, basically) three weeks early. I also plan in increasing my Friday penance to actual fasting during Septuagesima.