While most people are familiar with the late-night aspects of Mardi Gras, some may not be aware of the deeper parts of the holiday and how it relates to the Catholic tradition of Lent.

Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, may have become more of a secular holiday for letting loose, but it was traditionally a time for celebrating before Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday—the day after Fat Tuesday.

Rev. Job Scaria, priest and campus minister at the ULM Catholic Campus Ministry, said that Mardi Gras is a celebration of life before a time of fasting and sacrifice during Lent.

Fasting is a religious tradition where people abstain from certain things, such as food or drink.

Lent is the 40 days between Mardi Gras and Easter.  Scaria said that this time is a time to fast and reflect on the suffering of Christ before Easter.

“We are preparing for Easter,” said Scaria.

“Easter is the greatest celebration of the Catholic faith; Jesus conquering death and promising us resurrected life…as a preparation for the great celebration, we have Lent.  We change our way of life and try to imitate Christ in the Holy Bible.”

During the 40 days, most believers give up eating meat on Fridays and also choose another aspect of their life to sacrifice.

“You choose [to give up] something you like.  I don’t really like chocolate, so if I gave that up what kind of fasting is that?” Scaria said. “Suppose I like ice cream so much I would say, ‘During Lent, I want to participate so I want to have some pain to participate in the suffering of the Lord.’”

For students like Michael Roboski, a junior general business major, this  time of Lent and fasting is a very important aspect to their faith.

“Almost all of us do not eat red meat on Fridays and Sundays during Lent, but we also take on personal goals, such as no soft drinks, or taking the stairs.  Personally, I plan to dedicate more time to prayer and reflection because that area in my life is lacking and I wish to improve it,” Roboski said.

Although Lent has been traditionally a Catholic celebration, members of Protestant faiths also sometimes observe in the fasting.

Angie Shepard, associate director of the ULM Baptist Collegiate Ministry, said she was not a big fan of Mardi Gras, but she does like the idea of Lent.

Shepard said she didn’t have a problem with people sacrificing something for their God, but she didn’t think it needed to be something physical.

“For me as a protestant, when I think of what I’m going to give up to the Lord to prove my devotion, I’m going to give up the need to be right, or try to apply it to a character trait,” Shepard said.

The CCM will have a fish fry every Friday of the Lenten season.