Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of penance and fasting for Christians — and the season of Friday fish fries for Pittsburghers regardless of faith. Post-Gazette photographers captured everything from Mardi Gras parties to Ash Wednesday services as the season began.
Gloria McMabb, second from left, 78, smiles as her husband, Ed McMabb, 87, gets a kiss from their grandson Gabriel Kimmerle, 6, of Moon, after the couple was crowned king and queen of the Mardi Gras Ball during the party for the residents at Little Sisters of the Poor, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Brighton Heights. With music, a regal promenade, treats and food, residents, volunteers and visiting college students celebrated holiday decked in beads. Also pictured are members of the Mardi Gras court resident Mary Sahayda, left, 101, and volunteer Mike Byrnes, right, 63, of Pine. Byrnes picks up food donations about three times each week for the Little Sisters of the Poor. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Kristin Ward,a self-described “one woman color guard,” second from left, and drummer David Passmore, second from right, of Highland Park perform with Colonel Eagleburger’s High-Stepping Good-Time Band during the Mardi Gras celebration at the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, in Allegheny East. (Stephenie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Last year’s king, North Side legend Randy Gilson of Randyland fame, announces the crowning of the new king, esteemed drummer Roger Humphries, at the Mardi Gras celebration at the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, in Allegheny East. (Stephenie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Volunteer Steve Barker, 45, of Kennedy, dances with Helen Madden, 70, originally of Swissvale, during the Mardi Gras Ball for the residents at Little Sisters of the Poor, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Brighton Heights. “I wanted to go further into my Catholic faith,” said Barker, on why he volunteers at the Little Sisters of the Poor. “I started going back to Mass and I decided going back to Mass wasn’t enough. I wanted to do more.” (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Allison McGee, left, of Mt. Lebanon adds topping to the king cake she had shipped to her from Baton Rouge, La., to share with her friends Sean, center, and Robyn Brady, left, of Observatory Hill as they celebrate Mardi Gras during the party at the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, in Allegheny East. McGee used to live in Baton Rouge for 25 years, she said, adding that this particular cake is a tribute to the infamous Zulu Mardi Gras Krew. (Stephenie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)J.C. Hood, center, of Penn Hills serves a shrimp po’boy across the table at the Po’Boy Throwdown, Tuesday, March 4, 2019, at the Italian American Citizens Club in Turtle Creek. At the table are, from left, Carol Carr of Plum, Melanie Philbrick of Wilkins and Judy Jim of Plum. The Pittsburgh Smokehouse challenged Pgh Po Boy to a shrimp sandwich competition on Fat Tuesday. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)A band parades through the reception during the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central Pennsylvania’s Mardi Gras Gala, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh in Downtown. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)Maj. Jonathan Greer, the commander of the 911th Logistics Readiness Squadron, left, receives ashes from Air Force reserve chaplain Torrey Johnson during an Ash Wednesday service in the chapel of the 911th Airlift Wing, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in Moon. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)Parishioners sit at St. Mary of Mercy Church after receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in Downtown. (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)Lindsay Beel of Regent Square, left, looks at her son Elliot as the Rev. Canon Natalie Hall of Edgewood, right, places ashes on his forehead during the “Ashes for Little Kids” Ash Wednesday service, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at St. Stephen’s Church in Wilkinsburg. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)Jodie Moore of Shadyside, left, closes her eyes as Rev. Canon Natalie Hall of Edgewood, right, places ashes on his forehead during the “Ashes for Little Kids” Ash Wednesday service, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at St. Stephen’s Church in Wilkinsburg. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)
Paul Barker, youth director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, applies ashes to Joanna Reale of Mt. Lebanon, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at the Mt. Lebanon T Station. Barker was at the T station for the church’s Ashes-to-Go event. (Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette)
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