www.alphadictionary.com

That's a good question, Luke, and I would really like to hear the opinions of others on this one, too.

Since the express purpose of the feast ("Fat Tuesday" in English) is gluttony and other irreligious behavior before the doctrinal curtain falls on Ash Wednesday, it would be hard to call it hypocritical. They are doing exactly what they claim to be doing. From a more expansive perspective, however, I can see where the ceremonial violation of (what some say are) Christian values could be interpreted as hypocritical.

Just as France, Spain, and Italy (the main sources of Louisiana's European population) are almost monolithically Catholic, Louisiana is probably our most Catholic state. Sheesh, they call their counties "parishes." I say this because it is very likely that the restrictions of Lent are, in fact, observed there by a good portion of the population. I would offer, however, that there is probably very little overlap between the populations that constitute a) the Lent observers and b) the hard-core Mardi Gras revellers.

And probably the same could be said by
revellers in Mardi Gras in the many countries
where it is celebrated: notably Carnival in
Rio de Janiero? Also a supposedly a very
"Catholic" country.

The hypocritical ceremony/rite is still an interesting
one and one which confuses me.

I guess one reason is from having read this:

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedi ... lic-Church

The "Roman" aspect is deteriorating it would seem, at
least in regard to what this says.
Yes, Brazil is Catholic, as is much of Latin America, but
I wonder how much is "nominal" and how much is
"practicing". I don't know, I was just "supposing".

@beck

Just one point - I understand levels of domestic service are now higher in the States than in good ol' Blighty these days, and conditions often consdiered worse due to the high numbers of illegal immigrants employed. I can't say I have ever known much about anyone having servants here (England), perhaps not moving in those strata, so I think the boxing day thing is definitely historical. More well off acquaintances might possibly have a lady to do ironing or other housekeeping for short periods.

Apparently the increase in domestic service is due to the massive recent increases in income inequality in the US - seems the biggest factor. So it may be coming back to the (approximately) English speaking world soon.

We probably need a new thread, if this sort of
discussion is to continue, mummery and all.

A curious practice found in Mexico, just appeared
on a news service I subscribe to, and it has a
"ceremony", "ritual", "rite" or something similar;

http://observers.france24.com/fr/conten ... e&ns_fee=0

I'd second it if you are going to postpone both
discussions of "Boxing Day" in the thread, the other
one digressing into discussions of parasols and umbrellas.

http://www.alphadictionary.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=4148

Actually the question was rhetorical, just to set up a bad pun but the idea was let's leave it alone.

We're all aware there are two Boxing Day threads up, as well as some others. They're near the top on everybody's index. No need to state the obvious. All the more reason to stop bumping them and let the new crops breathe.

Sounds good to me, sorry I missed the pun.
I guess your experiences are very different from mine.
East is east and west is west and all that.

N.B. My last returns us to Boxing Day.

I know my grandparents (paternal) and great-grandparents(maternal) were highly disliked. I've heard the stories
from my mother; and my father's father worked decades
to achieve a small grocery which only became respected
in his later years, and is a thriving "ethnic" store today
with high levels of specialization in certain foods.

Perhaps it is time to move this conversation to PMs? I thought this was a language board, not a history of social inequality board.

Good suggestion, S.

I was really hoping you guys could let this rest. This is why I kept harping about off-topic posting. And also why I called for this thread to go to sleep a page back --when it was already badly decomposed.

One thing we have always managed to do here, whether on topic or not, is keep controversial stuff like politics, religion, and the like off the table, so that we can stay on what we're here for. Politics is lively, and nobody gets into it more than I, but this is not the venue. If someone starts it, just don't take the bait.

So this topic is specific to December 26th. Can we please let it sleep until then? Not chime in with yet another tangent, and not jump in to say "OK", just ...let it sleep, unmolested.

As the old sign says:
Do Not Open 'til Xmas...