THE SEASON OF LENT
Since we are right in the middle of the Lenten season I thought it would be nice to share a brief history.  For most Christian denominations around the world, lent is a season of repentance and soul searching. It begins on Ash Wednesday which directly follows Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday. Lent is the forty day period preceding Easter. It is also thought to represent the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. When counting the forty days we skip Sundays to commemorate the Resurection. Historically, lent was a period when converts were to prepare for baptism and for the faithful to rededicate themselves. It also originally signified Spring, a time of rejuvenation and rebirth.

In order to prepare for Easter, the Lenten season is a time of reflection as well as a time of fasting. The traditional fast is still rigidly followed by many Eastern European Christians: no meat, no fish, no dairy products, no eggs and no sugar. For the less rigid the Lenten fast usually means no meat on Fridays and usually giving up sweets and most sugar. Others may give up something that is special such as their morning coffee or chocolate. Luckily, on Sundays, you are allowed to indulge on the things you have abstained from during the week. Lent is also the time to do charitable deeds, especially by donating time, money or food to the poor or people with special needs.

Filed Under: Culinary History, Food Talk