I understand that this is not done here in the US. In Canada, the day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday, is known as Pancake Tuesday. Historically, those who observed such things celebrated the day before the season of Lent by using up their sugar, eggs, fat etc in preparation for fasting. In Poland, you got Paczki, in New Orleans you get King Cake, and in Canada, you get pancakes. I'm sure every region has its own pre-Lenten traditions. But in Canada, EVERYONE celebrates with Pancake Tuesday. (well, I might exaggerate a touch. forgive me.) We're not only not Catholic, we're not Christian. Honestly, we're not anything. Humanist, maybe.
So tonight, we had pancakes. And sausages, bacon, and a pot of tea. I guess if I was doing a low-carb thing I could have had eggs, but I'd have watched with longing while my family enjoyed flapjacks. I love pancakes, and breakfast for supper? Any excuse is good enough.
Tomorrow Lent begins. Like I said, we're not followers of organized religion. It's the organization part that bogs me down, not the religion, but I digress. Lent is a season of self-sacrifice with the goal of self-awareness; and understanding of your self inside your faith. Works for me. So from what shall I abstain for this month of self examination? I don't know. Check back tomorrow, I guess.
3 comments:
I'm another kind of humanist (though I've seen definitions that were less than complimentary for that term)... who still looks forward to Fat Tuesday. But I never knew about pancake tuesday.
I think for lent I will give up sitting on my butt. Up and moving is a good thing.
I used to joke that I was giving up being fat for Lent. Never actually happened, though. Every Mardi Gras I was more Gras than the Mardis before. This year, though, there actually IS less of me.
I'm still not sure what to give up, though. It's supposed to be "important." Important enough to cause you to pause and reflect instead of eating/doing/having whatever it is you aren't (e/d/h.) Or something like that. I suspect my interpretation of Catholic doctrine is a little ...um.. off.
A number of churches around here do Pancake Tuesday. And my sister, who is in Chicago, went to a pancake supper at their church last night. Just so you know it is a tradition in the States, too.
As for what to give up... I have heard of people giving up something and then donating the money they would have spent to a charity. I have also heard of people fasting on Good Friday and doing the same thing.
Post a Comment