The Oshkosh West Index - Mardi gras calls for hungry captivation

Volume 106, Issue 5

Online Features

Mardi gras calls for hungry captivation

By Jeff Farvour
posted February 24, 2010

Each day, the cafeteria at West is stampeded by hundreds of starved, animal-like students. Members of French Club were given the opportunity to see what it is like to serve a proportionally-sized, hungry herd on Fat Tuesday, February 16, in celebration of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a Catholic European tradition in which people gorge on as much food as they possibly can. The purpose of a seemingly overindulgent holiday lies in the thereafter - so that participants can start fasting the following day, namely Ash Wednesday. Though most students that attended the high school based feast were not going to start fasting on Wednesday, they were not prohibited the exceptional excuse to eat.

"We sold tickets the week before so we would know how many groceries to buy," said French teacher Kate Robinson.

In past years, the event had been notorious for congesting the W-wing with numerous hungry customers. This year with the altered Mardi Gras located in the French room, it provided no exception. The tickets did not sell exceptionally fast the week before the bash, but there was a notable number of spur of the moment participants.

"We had some last minute people show up so we had just enough food," said Robinson.

Fortunately, every individual that attended was able to get a taste of each of the foods, even with the limited portions.

"I thought [Mardi Gras] would be a better lunch than the processed food at the cafeteria," said sophomore Lars Maxfield.

Maxfield asserts that the change of pace, and faces, is definitely a positive aspect of luncheon.

"[It"s nice to] just see some different people and see the foods that were being served there," he said.

For a mere two dollars, students and faculty couldn"t have found a better bang for their buck. Attendees found themselves more than satisfied with the broad selection of food, and a chance to eat with both their friends and new acquaintances.

"There was a lot of good food," said Maxfield. "I knew there was jambalaya, but I didn"t know there was so many other desserts and sides, so it was just great."

After years of running this event, members of French club were able to put together a surprisingly differentiated feast in relation to past years. Not too many students or staff members knew what foods are served at Mardi Gras, let alone held knowledge about what Mardi Gras is. Yet nothing screamed Fat Tuesday louder than the buffet of various goodies that were served, including everything from sweet potato pudding to crab cakes, which efficiently won as a crowd favorite. Fortunately for the coordinators of the event, ample needs were met by student assistance, allowing for a relatively painless success as a part of teamwork.

"I always like helping out Madame Robinson with Mardi Gras," said sophomore Alex Johannes. "We just meet in the French room after school [prior to the date of the lunch], and help her out for an hour or so."

At least a dozen or more students signed up this year to help put the Mardi Gras event together. One group of students was responsible to set up all the festive decorations in the W-Wing hallway and French room while the others prepared the food for the luncheon. The team of cooperative students impressed both the student and faculty crowd for yet another year. The French Department has high hopes of hurdling the budget cuts and continuing on with the tradition in years to come, as it serves as both a great expression of culture, as well as an event of educational value amongst modern language crowds.

"I hope we get to do Mardi Gras next year," said Mrs. Robinson, "because we finally fine tuned this event to a sort of perfection this year."

Back to Top

Reader Comments:

No Reader Comments Yet, Post Your Own Below

Post Your Own Comment:

photo by Emily Moss

Social Mardi Gras attendees joke around about the decorations at the cultural celebration during lunch. Mardi Gras is an event sponsored by French Club each year, taking place on Fat Tuesday.

Post Your Comments

Write a letter to the editor.

Affordable, Free Ad Design, Advertise Today!

© 2006-2007 Oshkosh West Index