The Puritans were anti-happy; basically anything that pleased the spirit other then prayer and hard work was frowned up. Even the standard celebrations during Christmas were curtailed because they were thought to be excessive and did not keep with the Puritan ideal of conservatism. Everything about Mardi Gras conflicts with Puritanism: Stuffing our faces with king cake and guzzling any liquid within our reach even partially fermented would have horrified the Puritans. The Puritans left England because they wanted no part of the remnants of Catholicism and hence paganism that were still present in the Anglican church. Mardi Gras has its roots in the pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia and because it falls right before Lent, it is also thought to have roots in Catholicism. Mardi Gras is a time of throwing away our inhibitions and reverting back to our pagan roots. Mardi Gras is also the time we are given to get all of that merrymaking out of our system before Lent. We all act a little heathenish, and certainly overindulgent during the Mardi Gras season and think ourselves justified in being so as the Lenten season is always just around the corner.
Increase Mather on Christmas...he would have had a heart attack on Bourbon St.
"The generality of Christmas-keepers observe that festival after such a manner as is highly dishonourable to the name of Christ. How few are there comparatively that spend those holidays (as they are called) after an holy manner. But they are consumed in Compotations, in Interludes, in playing at Cards, in Revellings, in excess of Wine, in mad Mirth ...".
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