Mardi Gras gives the impression that it is all about the here and now. And it is. Whether you’re at a masquerade ball parading your wealth or partying it up on Bourbon, the season is all about self-pleasure. I think we all know that the Puritans would think this is the work of the devil, etc. etc. Mardi Gras is everything the Puritans stand against. However, all this partying didn’t emerge just because people wanted to party. They could do this anytime. The tradition of Mardi Gras, or Carnival, stems from preparing for an extended period of personal reflection and fasting found in the Catholic practice of Lent that immediately follows “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi Gras is a chance to have as much fun as possible before a period of self enforced depravity. I think the Puritans could definitely identify with the idea of Lent. They basically followed the spirit of Lent their whole lives and would support Lenten practices. Nevertheless, I think that while the Puritans could understand the idea (but not necessarily agree being depraved themselves) that all this sin must occur for people to follow the ways of God, now that Lent has fallen by the wayside and Mardi Gras serves no purpose in terms of Lent to the majority of the population, the Puritans would be even more disgusted today.