I'm not French or from Louisiana, but we have Louisiana right next door, and I love the Catholic heritage in that area.

We celebrated by having Popeye's Louisiana fried chicken for dinner. (Every Tuesday you can get 1 thigh, 1 leg for $1.29 -- maximum 8 sets) Fleur-de-Lis on the box and everything! Over dinner, we talked about Mardi Gras, Lent, why Lent is 40 days, what Catholics do for Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc.

We even sang the first verse of "The Glory of These Forty Days" (I love that melody).


The glory of these forty days,
We celebrate with song upraised;
For Christ, through Whom all things were made,
Himself has fasted and has prayed.

2. So Daniel trained a mystic sight,
Delivered from the lion's might;
And John, the bride groom's friend, became
The herald of Mesiah's name.

3. Then grant us Lord, like them to be,
Full oft in fast and prayer with Thee;
Our spirits strengthen with Thy grace,
And give us joy to see Thy face.

4. O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
To Thee be every prayer address'd;
Who art in thee fold name adored,
From age to age the only Lord.

http://www.chantcd.com/lyrics/glory_these_forty_days.htm

Oh, and the original Latin of this song Clarum decus jejunii was written a few years ago, in the SIXTH CENTURY. The USA is a snot-nosed preschooler compared to the venerable age of the Catholic Church.

So we had a good Mardi Gras here.

Yes, Happy Mardi Gras!   :jumping2: