<P> Within many churches in the United States of America, after the Second Vatican Council, the need to veil statues or crosses became increasingly irrelevant and was deemed unnecessary by some diocesan bishops . As a result, the veils were removed at the singing of the Gloria in Excelsis Deo during the Easter Vigil . In 1970, the name "Passiontide" was dropped, although the last two weeks are markedly different from the rest of the season, and continuance of the tradition of veiling images is left to the discretion of a country's conference of bishops or even to individual parishes as pastors may wish . </P> <P> On Good Friday, the Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist churches traditionally veiled "all pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered in mourning black", while "the chancel and altar coverings are replaced with black, and altar candles are extinguished". The fabrics are then "replaced with white on sunrise on Easter Sunday". </P> <P> The carnival celebrations which in many cultures traditionally precede Lent are seen as a last opportunity for excess before Lent begins . Some of the most famous are the Carnival of Barranquilla, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Carnival of Venice, Cologne Carnival, the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the Rio de Janeiro carnival, and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival . </P> <P> The day immediately preceding Lent is variously called Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"), Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday . Sometimes, it is the peak of the pre-Lenten festival, while sometimes it is largely occupied with preparations for Lent . The observances vary from culture to culture, and even from town to town . </P>

When can you do what you gave up for lent