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Copied and agree Why I’m Personally Not a Fan of Lent Mardi Gras has its roots in Catholic tradition, originally tied to the practice of Lenten fasting. Since certain foods were restricted during Lent, people would hold massive feasts beforehand to use up what they couldn’t eat. But over time, what started as a practical preparation for fasting turned into a full-blown festival of indulgence, excess, and outright debauchery. Today, it’s an excuse for unchecked sin—gluttony, drunkenness, immorality—followed by a ritualistic wiping of the slate on Ash Wednesday. And this is exactly why I’ve never been able to see Lent in a positive light. Growing up in Louisiana, I saw firsthand how Catholics would engage in some of the most shameless behavior—not in defiance of their tradition, but because of it. The whole system encourages people to indulge as much as possible before "repenting," as if that’s how repentance works. But biblical repentance isn’t about alternating between sin and penance—it’s about turning from sin entirely. Jesus warned against this kind of empty, outward display of righteousness. But in Catholicism, repentance isn’t a matter of the heart; it’s a ritual. Confess, do your penance, and you’re good to go. Sin, rinse, repeat. That’s not Christianity—that’s hypocrisy.