Lent is the time of preparation for Easter, like Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas. For some people, however, it means they’re just recovering from their hangover from Mardi Gras. Unless you go to New Orleans, you may not realize that Mardi Gras runs for two weeks rather than just one day.

So, what is it about holidays, other than just some time off from work? Yes, they are special occasions each year intended to commemorate some event or period in history. Well, of course, Easter is more than just the Easter Bunny. For Christians, it is the story of the Resurrection of Jesus, the crowning moment in Christian Theology.

I discussed Religion last week, so I don’t want to get into a theological review of the meaning of Easter. I chose to approach Lent from a more philosophical point of view.

How do we celebrate holidays? That depends upon the country, the ethnicity, the family traditions, and the individual. Sure, 4th of July is different than President’s Day, which we just was celebrated last week without much recognition of our Presidents. It got a little more notice this year because of the illness of President Carter.

For generations, holidays referred to “Holy” Days, or Feast Days in the Church Calendar. Now that they have become more secular, the context has changed. They could be interpreted as a day of rest, or at least a day away from your usual job. Often, people include them as part of personal time off the job or as a part of a vacation. Sometimes it is celebrated with a parade or a formal ceremony. Does it matter whether they are set aside by law or by tradition? They have more significance than an ordinary weekend since they only occur once a year.

Why do we need to have a formal celebration? Can’t we just decide to party? Perhaps, we usually think of them as more somber. My immigrant grandfather used to put up bunting all around the house on July 4th. Most people don’t even put up a flag. I live in an apartment, so I gave mine away.

In the most basic terms, every now and then we just need to stop and take stock of things. We need a break from the monotonous daily routine. We want something “special” in our lives, and the most common expression of that occurs around holidays and sporting events. Is that time and money thrown away? I don’t think so. We need something to look forward to.

As we contemplate the days of Lent, let us consider the purpose and meaning of our lives. The process should be more than just a rote recitation of the steps to the Cross.

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