Lent, Ash Wednesday, Fastnacht Day, Mardi Gras

Lent begins after Fastnacht Tuesday on Ash Wednesday and ends at Easter.

The "ashes" in Ash Wednesday represent "dust".
The term "Fastnacht" literally means the "night before the fast".
The French word "Mardi Gras" ≈ "Mardi Gras" as "Fat Tuesday".

Lent is noticeable for daylight hours lengthening.

The Old English word "lencten" ≈ "spring".
The (older) German word "Lenz" ≈ "spring".

The Old English word "lencten" and the German word "Lenz" ≈ "spring" (dated) may be related to the word for "long" or "lengthen" as in the lengthening of days in the Spring time.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends about six weeks later, right before Easter Sunday.

The Latin "quadragesima" ≈ "fortieth"
The modern Greek word "Σαρακοστή" (Sa-ra-ko-STEE) ≈ "Lent" where prefix the "τέσσερα" (TEHS-seh-ra) ≈ "four" has been dropped over the years.

Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; [kjv]

τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων [lxx]

… Blumen … hervorkommen … Lenz … herbeikommen… Turteltaube … [lu]

The Luther German uses the word "Lenz" for "spring" which is related to the word "Lent" as the time before Easter when the daylight hours of each day are lengthening.
From the LXX (Septuagint), the "turtle" is a "turtle dove" that makes the sound "tur, tur" as in "turtle".

More: Turtle doves are not turtles

The number 40 is used often in the Bible. Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Counting back 40 days from Easter Sunday, not including Sunday, is a Wednesday, Ash Wednesday.

Counting back 40 days requires "fortitude", at least "for" some (egg-citing).

To sum it up, Many children these days have sum trouble with multiplication. There is a difference of opinion, but times are tough. And their troubles are multiplying. Does that add up? What does the remainder say about what is left over?

6 weeks is 42 days, but 36 days if Sundays are not counted.
4 days need to be added to the 6 weeks, which are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Thus, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [kjv]

εν ιδρωτι του προσωπου σου φαγη τον αρτον σου εως του αποστρεψαι σε εις την γην εξ ης ελημφθης οτι γη ει και εις γην απελευση [lxx]

The ashes in Ash Wednesday represent "dust".
The LXX does not use the word for "dust". The LXX uses the ancient Greek word "γη" ≈ "earth" and from which come the English words "geometry", "geology", etc.

Gee, in Greek it's "γη" (ghee) ≈ "earth, land".

Genesis 3:19

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KJV: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Hebrew: בזעת אפיך תאכל לחם עד שובך אל האדמה כי ממנה לקחת כי עפר אתה ואל עפר תשוב׃

Greek: εν ιδρωτι του προσωπου σου φαγη τον αρτον σου εως του αποστρεψαι σε εις την γην εξ ης ελημφθης οτι γη ει και εις γην απελευση

Latin: in sudore vultus tui vesceris pane donec revertaris in terram de qua sumptus es quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris

Some claim that the word "deacon" comes from the idea of a "go for" or "gopher" in that the person would go through the dust, from "dia" (through, as in "diameter") and "kone" (as in "dust") in doing their duties. This may be a folk etymology but helps in remembering the word.

The Go programming languages use the Go Gopher as a mascot. See https://go.dev/blog/gopher (as of 2022-06-14)

More: Deacon as an administration gopher

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [kjv]

The Latin word "pulvis" ≈ "dust" and from which comes the English word "pulverize".

The modern Greek word "στακτή" (sta-KTEE) ≈ "ash".

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. [kjv]

διο εφαυλισα εμαυτον και ετακην ηγημαι δε εμαυτον γην και σποδον [lxx]

… favilla … cinere [v]

… sparcle … aische. [wy]

… Staub … Asche. [lu]

The LXX uses the word for "earth" as "dust". The German word "Staub" ≈ "dust". Wycliffe has "sparcle" - dust in the air can "sparkle" in a sense when the sun shines on it.

The Latin word "cinera" ≈ "ashes" and is the source of the English words "cinder", "incinerate", etc., and the basis for the fairy tail character "Cinderella" as one whose work is to work with ashes, etc.

Job 42:6

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KJV: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Hebrew: על כן אמאס ונחמתי על עפר ואפר׃

Greek: διο εφαυλισα εμαυτον και ετακην ηγημαι δε εμαυτον γην και σποδον

Latin: idcirco ipse me reprehendo et ago paenitentiam in favilla et cinere

Wycliffe: Therfor Y repreue me, and do penaunce in deed sparcle and aische.

Luther: Darum schuldige ich mich und tue Buße in Staub und Asche.

Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. [kjv]

και η γενεσις σου εν η ημερα ετεχθης ουκ εδησαν τους μαστους σου και εν υδατι ουκ ελουσθης ουδε αλι ηλισθης και σπαργανοις ουκ εσπαργανωθης [lxx]

The English word "sparkle" comes from the root prefix "spark" which comes from the Old English word "spearca" ≈ "spark" which is related to the Latin word "spargo" ≈ "to scatter, spread" and to the modern Greek word "σπαργάω" (spar-GA-o) ≈ "to swell".

Ezekiel 16:4

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KJV: And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

Hebrew: ומולדותיך ביום הולדת אתך לא כרת שרך ובמים לא רחצת למשעי והמלח לא המלחת והחתל לא חתלת׃

Greek: και η γενεσις σου εν η ημερα ετεχθης ουκ εδησαν τους μαστους σου και εν υδατι ουκ ελουσθης ουδε αλι ηλισθης και σπαργανοις ουκ εσπαργανωθης

Latin: et quando nata es in die ortus tui non est praecisus umbilicus tuus et in aqua non es lota in salutem nec sale salita nec involuta pannis

Luther: Deine Geburt ist also gewesen: Dein Nabel, da du geboren wurdest, ist nicht verschnitten; so hat man dich auch mit Wasser nicht gebadet, daß du sauber würdest, noch mit Salz gerieben, noch in Windeln gewickelt.

Spanish: Y en cuanto a tu nacimiento, el día que naciste no fue cortado tu ombligo, ni fuiste lavada con aguas para atemperarte, ni salada con sal, ni fuiste envuelta con fajas.

Psalms 147:16

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KJV: He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Hebrew: הנתן שלג כצמר כפור כאפר יפזר׃

Greek: του διδοντος χιονα ωσει εριον ομιχλην ωσει σποδον πασσοντος

Latin: qui dat nivem quasi lanam pruinas quasi cinerem spargit

Luther: Er gibt Schnee wie Wolle, er streuet Reif wie Asche.

Gray hair is often associated with being old and, in some cases, a reason for respect.

The term "hoarfrost" means gray as in "gray hair" and is related to the German word "Herr" ≈ "Mister" and is a term of respect for older males.

Can something "new", as in "young", be considered "old" is in aged and respected?

In 19th Century Prussia (later part of Germany) the "Junkers" were a young aristocratic and powerful group. They got their name from each being "Young Herr" where the German word "Jung" ≈ "young" .

More: Some words on ancient old ages

Lamentations 4:8

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KJV: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Hebrew: חשך משחור תארם לא נכרו בחוצות צפד עורם על עצמם יבש היה כעץ׃

Greek: εσκοτασεν υπερ ασβολην το ειδος αυτων ουκ επεγνωσθησαν εν ταις εξοδοις επαγη δερμα αυτων επι τα οστεα αυτων εξηρανθησαν εγενηθησαν ωσπερ ξυλον

Matthew 17:21

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KJV: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Greek: τουτο δε το γενος ουκ εκπορευεται ει μη εν προσευχη και νηστεια

Latin: hoc autem genus non eicitur nisi per orationem et ieiunium

Wessex: Soðlice þis kyn ne beoð ut-adrifen buten þurh gebed & faesten.

Tyndale: How be it this kynde goeth not oute but by prayer and fastinge.

Luther: Aber diese Art fährt nicht aus denn durch Beten und Fasten.

Russian: сей же род изгоняется только молитвою и постом.

Lent is a time of fasting, self-denial, etc.

What is a fast?

The modern Greek word "νηστεία" (nee-STEE-a) ≈ "fasting"

We fast every night. When we break the fast, it is called "breakfast".

2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. [kjv]

και εν πλεονεξια πλαστοις λογοις υμας εμπορευσονται οις το κριμα εκπαλαι ουκ αργει και η απωλεια αυτων ου νυσταζει [gnt]

… marchaundie … feyned … [wy]

In the 1970's, a marketing theme was to start you day right with a good breakfast.

This was motivated, in part, by cereal companies who, knowing people did not have time for a traditional breakfast, would then buy more cereal to have a "good breakfast". So people were busy and convincing them that they needed breakfast increases cereal sales.

Peter talks about such "merchandising" in terms of latter day false prophets in 2 Peter.

2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. [kjv]

Peter says that these "false teachers" will use "plastic" words to make "merchandise" of their followers as in selling at an "emporium".

"πλάσσω" ≈ "form, mold, shape" as is the source of the English word "plastic".
"ἔμπορος" ≈ "traveler, merchant" as in one who makes a journey and is the source of the English word "emporium".

In Romans 16, Paul make a play on words between "useful words", "subtle sermons" in Latin, and "Christ words".

More: Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words

More: 2 Peter 2:1-22 Déjà vu all over again

The last day before Lent (fasting) is a special day.

The French word "gras" ≈ "fat".
The French word "Mardi Gras" ≈ "Mardi Gras" is, literally, "Fat Tuesday".

The day "Mardi Gras" is the last day of a longer festival that ends the day before Lent begins.

The most famous "Mardi Gras" is in New Orleans, home of the NFL (National Football League) team the New Orleans Saints. The French word "fleurdelis" ≈ "lily" and has important meanings throughout French history.

The Unicode character for the Fleur-de-lis is #9884.

2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. [kjv]

και εγενετο επιστρεψαντος του ενιαυτου εις τον καιρον της εξοδιας των βασιλεων και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον ιωαβ και τους παιδας αυτου μετ αυτου και τον παντα ισραηλ και διεφθειραν τους υιους αμμων και διεκαθισαν επι ραββαθ και δαυιδ εκαθισεν εν ιερουσαλημ [lxx]

… vertente anno … [v]

The French word "Mardi" ≈ "Tuesday" from the Latin "dies Martis" ≈ "day of Mars" where Mars is the God of War and the basis for the month name of "March" - the time when ancient folk would go to war.

2 Samuel 11:1

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KJV: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

Hebrew: ויהי לתשובת השנה לעת צאת המלאכים וישלח דוד את יואב ואת עבדיו עמו ואת כל ישראל וישחתו את בני עמון ויצרו על רבה ודוד יושב בירושלם׃

Greek: και εγενετο επιστρεψαντος του ενιαυτου εις τον καιρον της εξοδιας των βασιλεων και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον ιωαβ και τους παιδας αυτου μετ αυτου και τον παντα ισραηλ και διεφθειραν τους υιους αμμων και διεκαθισαν επι ραββαθ και δαυιδ εκαθισεν εν ιερουσαλημ

Latin: factum est ergo vertente anno eo tempore quo solent reges ad bella procedere misit David Ioab et servos suos cum eo et universum Israhel et vastaverunt filios Ammon et obsederunt Rabba David autem remansit in Hierusalem

Wycliffe: Forsothe it was doon, whanne the yeer turnede ayen in that tyme wherynne kyngis ben wont to go forth to batels, Dauid sente Joab, and with hym hise seruauntis, and al Israel; and thei distrieden the sones of Amon, and bisegiden Rabath; forsothe Dauid dwellide in Jerusalem.

Luther: Und da das Jahr um kam, zur Zeit wenn die Könige pflegen auszuziehen, sandte David Joab und seine Knechte mit ihm und das ganze Israel, daß sie die Kinder Ammon verderbeten und belegten Rabba, David aber blieb zu Jerusalem.

Many modern English versions use "Spring time" for "after the year was expired".

Roman calendars (and other groups) started the year in what is called March, the month of Spring and the month of war. Later, the Romans moved the start of the year to January, which is why the names September (for seventh month) through December (the tenth month) still reflect that older start of the year in March.

The term "Fastnacht" literally means the "night before the fast" (of Lent). Ingredients such as butter and lard that were not to be used during the Lent fast were consumed during this celebration.

The German word "Fastenzeit" ≈ "Lent" which is, literally, the "time of fasting".
The German word "fasten" ≈ "to fast".
The German word "Zeit" ≈ "time" which is related to the Old English word "tide" ≈ "time" and from which we get the English word "tide" (ocean current).

More: Genesis 1: Evening and morning

A Pennsylvania Dutch custom, called "Fastnacht Day", or "Faasenacht Day", is a tradition to eat well before the start of Lent. This as a "Day" named for a "Night".

The German word "Fast" ≈ "fast".
The German word "Nacht" ≈ "night".

More: Genesis 1: Evening and morning

The word for "night" is related among many PIE (Proto Indo-European) languages.

The Latin word "nox" ≈ "night".
The Latin word "noctis" ≈ "night"
The modern Greek word "νύχτα" (NEEKH-ta) ≈ "night"
The Russian word "ночь" (noch') ≈ "night"

The word "shrove" comes from the word "shrive" which means to "absolve", as in a priest hearing a confession and "prescribing" penance and/or granting absolution.

The Old English word "scrifan" ≈ "assign, prescribe".
The German word "schreiben" ≈ "write, draw".
The Latin word "scribere" ≈ "write".
"*skribh" ≈ "to cut"

Pancake Tuesday is the day before Lent, for the same reason as Fastnacht Day. The flip side is that that is the flat truth.

Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [kjv]

και ινα μη τις δυνηται αγορασαι η πωλησαι ει μη ο εχων το χαραγμα το ονομα του θηριου η τον αριθμον του ονοματος αυτου [gnt]

… caracter … [v]

The modern Greek word "χάραγμα" (HA-ra-gma) ≈ "mark, inscribe" appears to go back to the same PIE root as the above words. This Greek word is featured prominently in Revelation as the "Mark of the Beast".

More: The mark of an impressive character

Revelation 13:17

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KJV: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Greek: και ινα μη τις δυνηται αγορασαι η πωλησαι ει μη ο εχων το χαραγμαη το ονομα του θηριου η τον αριθμον του ονοματος αυτου

Latin: et ne quis possit emere aut vendere nisi qui habet caracter nomen bestiae aut numerum nominis eius

Wycliffe: ethir sille, but thei han the caracter, ether the name of the beeste, ethir the noumbre of his name.

Tyndale: And that no ma myght by or sell save he that had the marke or the name of the beest other the nombre of his name.

Luther: daß niemand kaufen oder verkaufen kann, er habe denn das Malzeichen oder den Namen des Tieres oder die Zahl seines Namens.

The Pennsylvania Dutch term for a "doughnut" is a "Fastnacht", from the German word for "fast" and "night".
From Wikipedia: The last person up on Shrove Tuesday was called the "Fastnacht" and kidded all day long for being late for this wonderful breakfast. In the same way, the last person up on Ash Wednesday was also teased, and called the "Ashepuddle", whose chore for the day was to carry the ashes in the stoves and ovens outside to the ash pile.