Mid-Lent is a practice that dates back to the Middle Ages and continues to this day in some villages of France and its former colonies. The Mid-Lenten was also once in France the Feast of the laundresses, of the flowers of coal and carriers of water. 

In prior centuries, Mid-Lent was an important date as it would be the day to start to restock the foods that are not eaten during Lent. With the advent of refrigeration, the need to have this halfway point marked out has faded away. 

The word “lent” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘lencten’ which literally means “spring”. ‘Lencten’ has a root in the Germanic word for long, which assigned itself to Spring as the days become longer. 

In most countries Lent is a somewhat solum times however here the Guadeloupe Carnival is a two-month carnival celebration that starts before Lent. It is a colorful spectacle full of parades, costumes and tradition.