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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 09:27:43 AM

Title: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 09:27:43 AM
I'm giving up meat and dairy for lent.  Except for butter in cooking.

What are all of you giving up?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Larch on February 22, 2012, 09:30:05 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 09:27:43 AM
I'm giving up meat and dairy for lent.  Except for butter in cooking.

What are all of you giving up?

Nothing at all. Come on, not even my grandma gives up dairy.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 09:31:22 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 22, 2012, 09:30:05 AM
Nothing at all. Come on, not even my grandma gives up dairy.
I wanted to do the full Greek Lent inspired by Kazantzakis, but I could face giving up dairy, eggs, meat, fish, oil and wine :bleeding:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 22, 2012, 09:32:59 AM
I'm giving up on life.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Larch on February 22, 2012, 09:34:02 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 09:31:22 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 22, 2012, 09:30:05 AM
Nothing at all. Come on, not even my grandma gives up dairy.
I wanted to do the full Greek Lent inspired by Kazantzakis, but I could face giving up dairy, eggs, meat, fish, oil and wine :bleeding:

And joy of life, now that you're at it.  :P
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on February 22, 2012, 09:35:48 AM
Fast food.  And hard liquor except when I really, really need a hit.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: PDH on February 22, 2012, 09:45:44 AM
The same as every year.  I am giving up self-immolation.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: 11B4V on February 22, 2012, 10:15:08 AM
What the fuck is Lent? Some sandal wearing hippie shit?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 22, 2012, 10:17:53 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 22, 2012, 10:15:08 AM
What the fuck is Lent? Some sandal wearing hippie shit?

For you crazy southern Baptists, it's the time before Easter.  You know about Easter, when you people dye your multicolored snakes.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: 11B4V on February 22, 2012, 10:19:18 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 22, 2012, 10:17:53 AM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 22, 2012, 10:15:08 AM
What the fuck is Lent? Some sandal wearing hippie shit?

For you crazy southern Baptists, it's the time before Easter.  You know about Easter, when you people dye your multicolored snakes.

:huh: :huh:That cleared it up :huh:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Grey Fox on February 22, 2012, 10:28:09 AM
Meat on Friday
Sweets
Smoking the pipe.


No, not really. :lol:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Duque de Bragança on February 22, 2012, 10:37:52 AM
Nothing, unless giving up meat on Friday for much better fish counts towards it.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2012, 11:31:26 AM
I usually go to the fish fry over at the local Catholic high school once or twice.  They've always got some nice looking moms working.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Viking on February 22, 2012, 11:35:18 AM
I giving up the war on christmas, if only to start the war on lent.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Eddie Teach on February 22, 2012, 11:37:25 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2012, 11:31:26 AM
I usually go to the fish fry over at the local Catholic high school once or twice.  They've always got some nice looking moms working.

Yeah, moms. ;)
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2012, 12:24:57 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on February 22, 2012, 11:37:25 AM
Yeah, moms. ;)

The fish fry is run by the PTA, so moms is what I get.  When I want to put eyes on The Bait I wait for the cheerleader car wash.

Anyway, this school doesn't do the sexy outfits.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Ed Anger on February 22, 2012, 01:02:23 PM
Cheerleader car wash.  :)
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: FunkMonk on February 22, 2012, 01:52:17 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 22, 2012, 10:17:53 AM

For you crazy southern Baptists, it's the time before Easter.  You know about Easter, when you people dye your multicolored snakes.

:lmfao:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: garbon on February 22, 2012, 02:02:39 PM
I've decided I hate Ash Wednesday. Every year I get tricked my the first person I see with a dirty smudge. :(
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Neil on February 22, 2012, 02:35:40 PM
Catholicism.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Brazen on February 22, 2012, 03:17:55 PM
I'm giving up abstinence :cheers:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: katmai on February 22, 2012, 04:04:54 PM
Dammit Neil is a copycat.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Eddie Teach on February 22, 2012, 04:07:50 PM
Polka music.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Josephus on February 22, 2012, 04:46:09 PM
Masturbation. And Languish.

D'OH! :weep:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: derspiess on February 22, 2012, 04:56:20 PM
Methodists don't really do Lent.  I mean, we learn about it.  We talk about it.  We officially observe it.  But I don't know anyone who's ever actually participated.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on February 22, 2012, 05:25:55 PM
So, you Methodists give up lent  :hmm:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Admiral Yi on February 22, 2012, 05:28:18 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on February 22, 2012, 05:25:55 PM
So, you Methodists give up lent  :hmm:

Lent is too much fun for Methodists to handle.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 06:06:07 PM
I had no idea this was still a sectarian or terribly religious thing.  I had pancakes with friends last night and they were all giving something up (or going to the gym more) for lent.  None of them are religious at all.

If you take part in pancake day you should be required to sacrifice something for lent <_<
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 22, 2012, 06:11:10 PM
Oh this explains why there was hardly any crowd at that nice hamburger restaurant today. I went with my Jewish boyfriend.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 22, 2012, 06:12:47 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 22, 2012, 09:32:59 AM
I'm giving up on life.

Haven't you done that like 10 years ago or so?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 22, 2012, 06:14:37 PM
Quote from: garbon on February 22, 2012, 02:02:39 PM
I've decided I hate Ash Wednesday. Every year I get tricked my the first person I see with a dirty smudge. :(

It's funny. For Poland being such a Catholic country I've never seen anyone like that in the street here.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Maximus on February 22, 2012, 06:21:24 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 06:06:07 PM
I had no idea this was still a sectarian or terribly religious thing. 
I had no idea this was still a thing.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: rufweed on February 22, 2012, 06:21:48 PM
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417442_303938596336629_156832574380566_875717_919324470_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: dps on February 22, 2012, 10:38:52 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 06:06:07 PM
I had no idea this was still a sectarian or terribly religious thing.  I had pancakes with friends last night and they were all giving something up (or going to the gym more) for lent.  None of them are religious at all.

If you take part in pancake day you should be required to sacrifice something for lent <_<

That seems weird.  I mean, I get why non-Christians observe Christmas--the exchanging of the gifts and decorating and stuff can be fun.  But why a non-Christian would give up something for Lent I can't comprehend.

And even among Christians, at least in the parts of the country I've lived in, it's mostly a Catholic or Orthodox thing. 
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Camerus on February 23, 2012, 02:22:10 AM
Some people feel challenging themselves by doing a self-sacrifice for 40 days will, if successful, increase their confidence and mojo.  Religion doesn't have to factor into it at all.

As for the question, my usual poisons.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Scipio on February 23, 2012, 07:31:15 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 22, 2012, 09:31:22 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 22, 2012, 09:30:05 AM
Nothing at all. Come on, not even my grandma gives up dairy.
I wanted to do the full Greek Lent inspired by Kazantzakis, but I could face giving up dairy, eggs, meat, fish, oil and wine :bleeding:

You get Alcohol and oil on Saturdays and Sundays.  I'm looking forward to my traditional ten pounds of lost weight for Lent.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 07:33:56 AM
Quote from: dps on February 22, 2012, 10:38:52 PM
That seems weird.  I mean, I get why non-Christians observe Christmas--the exchanging of the gifts and decorating and stuff can be fun.  But why a non-Christian would give up something for Lent I can't comprehend.
I think people treat it like a second chance at New Year's resolutions and that sort of thing.  Plus I've known loads of people who start (or try) to quit smoking with Lent and that sort of thing.  It's pretty common.  As I say almost everyone I know is doing something for lent.

Do you guys have pancake day?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 07:45:34 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 07:33:56 AM
Quote from: dps on February 22, 2012, 10:38:52 PM
That seems weird.  I mean, I get why non-Christians observe Christmas--the exchanging of the gifts and decorating and stuff can be fun.  But why a non-Christian would give up something for Lent I can't comprehend.
I think people treat it like a second chance at New Year's resolutions and that sort of thing.  Plus I've known loads of people who start (or try) to quit smoking with Lent and that sort of thing.  It's pretty common.  As I say almost everyone I know is doing something for lent.

Do you guys have pancake day?

Never heard of it, is it a British tradition, maybe?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Eddie Teach on February 23, 2012, 07:47:40 AM
I try to have Pancake Day a couple times a month. :mmm:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 07:51:24 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 07:45:34 AM
Never heard of it, is it a British tradition, maybe?
By the sounds of it. I always thought Americans had it though.

It's for Shrove Tuesday, before Lent starts, you eat loads of pancakes (I had cheese ones, some with cured meats and cheese, lemon and sugar, honey, syrup...:mmm:) traditionally it's to use up all of the ingredients that you wouldn't eat during Lent - like butter, eggs, milk and sugar.  It's the traditional, less full-on British version of Carnival or Mardi Gras I think.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 07:55:59 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 07:51:24 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 07:45:34 AM
Never heard of it, is it a British tradition, maybe?
By the sounds of it. I always thought Americans had it though.

It's for Shrove Tuesday, before Lent starts, you eat loads of pancakes (I had cheese ones, some with cured meats and cheese, lemon and sugar, honey, syrup...:mmm:) traditionally it's to use up all of the ingredients that you wouldn't eat during Lent - like butter, eggs, milk and sugar.  It's the traditional, less full-on British version of Carnival or Mardi Gras I think.

In my region a traditional carnival dessert are "filloas", which are sorta like French crepes, so not quite pancakes and traditionally sweet, but you get the idea.  :lol:

They are also traditional in November, at the time of the "matanza", ie traditional pig slaughtering time, but those ones are made with pig blood.  :ph34r:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Josephus on February 23, 2012, 08:10:25 AM
My mother used to make a prinjolata. A very, very sweet cake we had before Lent.

http://www.maltabulb.com/easy_dessert_recipe.html

Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 23, 2012, 10:12:49 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 07:45:34 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 07:33:56 AM
Quote from: dps on February 22, 2012, 10:38:52 PM
That seems weird.  I mean, I get why non-Christians observe Christmas--the exchanging of the gifts and decorating and stuff can be fun.  But why a non-Christian would give up something for Lent I can't comprehend.
I think people treat it like a second chance at New Year's resolutions and that sort of thing.  Plus I've known loads of people who start (or try) to quit smoking with Lent and that sort of thing.  It's pretty common.  As I say almost everyone I know is doing something for lent.

Do you guys have pancake day?

Never heard of it, is it a British tradition, maybe?
nope, used to be traditional here too: on "Vette Dinsdag" (Mardi Gras, or the day before Ashwednesday) you ate pancakes (though I'm not sure if it's the american or 'french' version since crepes are the normal version here. Though they're called "pannenkoeken", pancakes here.)
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 10:20:02 AM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on February 23, 2012, 10:12:49 AM
nope, used to be traditional here too: on "Vette Dinsdag" (Mardi Gras, or the day before Ashwednesday) you ate pancakes (though I'm not sure if it's the american or 'french' version since crepes are the normal version here. Though they're called "pannenkoeken", pancakes here.)
British pancakes are much the same as Dutch ones I think.  American pancakes are called Scotch pancakes here and are common for breakfast in Scotland.  The pancakes we have on Shrove Tuesday are closer to crepes but a little bit thicker, not least because you make them at home.

QuoteIn my region a traditional carnival dessert are "filloas", which are sorta like French crepes, so not quite pancakes and traditionally sweet, but you get the idea. 
Just looked up the recipe and it's basically the same.  The British one is normally just flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt so you can have savoury and sweet.  Is that Galician or all over Spain?

Also what do you do with the blood?  I'm imagining like large thin slices of black pudding :mmm:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 10:34:47 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 10:20:02 AM
QuoteIn my region a traditional carnival dessert are "filloas", which are sorta like French crepes, so not quite pancakes and traditionally sweet, but you get the idea. 
Just looked up the recipe and it's basically the same.  The British one is normally just flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt so you can have savoury and sweet.  Is that Galician or all over Spain?

Also what do you do with the blood?  I'm imagining like large thin slices of black pudding :mmm:

It's basically Galician, although you can find them a bit around the NW of Spain.

And a "Filloa de sangue" looks like this:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-SuC5BgDZJUQ%2FTtdxvNUVFlI%2FAAAAAAAAFKQ%2Fm-BO9OybsZ0%2Fs640%2FIMG_5844.jpg&hash=5589de47a2f4de7b8a5c4560b666ff93e757ea5a)

It's basically the same recipe than the normal one, but with added pig blood in the mixture.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: 11B4V on February 23, 2012, 10:38:36 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 10:34:47 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 10:20:02 AM
QuoteIn my region a traditional carnival dessert are "filloas", which are sorta like French crepes, so not quite pancakes and traditionally sweet, but you get the idea. 
Just looked up the recipe and it's basically the same.  The British one is normally just flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt so you can have savoury and sweet.  Is that Galician or all over Spain?

Also what do you do with the blood?  I'm imagining like large thin slices of black pudding :mmm:

It's basically Galician, although you can find them a bit around the NW of Spain.

And a "Filloa de sangue" looks like this:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-SuC5BgDZJUQ%2FTtdxvNUVFlI%2FAAAAAAAAFKQ%2Fm-BO9OybsZ0%2Fs640%2FIMG_5844.jpg&hash=5589de47a2f4de7b8a5c4560b666ff93e757ea5a)

It's basically the same recipe than the normal one, but with added pig blood in the mixture.

That looks like a big pile of shit.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on February 23, 2012, 10:39:43 AM
Euro food is odd.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 23, 2012, 10:44:15 AM
Thank you, now I have to take a dump.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 10:48:07 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 10:34:47 AM
And a "Filloa de sangue" looks like this:
...
It's basically the same recipe than the normal one, but with added pig blood in the mixture.
Interesting.  How do you eat them, are they savoury or sweet?  Looked up blood pancake and apparently it's something the Finns eat with jam.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 10:57:37 AM
A lot of stuff Sheilbh mentions is also reflected in Polish culture/religiosity, so I suspect this is more of an European Catholic thing.

We have the Fat Thursday (the Thursday preceding the Ash Wednesday), and the Shrove Tuesday (literally "Leftovers") when people eat a lot of sweets, especially "paczki" (jelly-filled dougnuts) and "faworki" (crisp delicate pastry made of dough twisted into ribbons, deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar).

Two styles of paczki (btw, "paczki" is plural of "paczek"):

Glazened:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprzepisy.styl.fm%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F01%2Fpaczki-kopia1.jpg&hash=7c3cce077d8a9d3111069a7555b72c138ffac5bb)

Non-glazened:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fniepoprawni.pl%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fpaczki.jpg&hash=80b60aba89bb3091360befc1af02676706bbd64f)

Faworki:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fkotlet.tv%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F02%2Ffaworki.jpg&hash=d36ed3a181a325f0d0e208d9107104d8163e2a02)

On Ash Wednesday Catholics are supposed not to eat meat and generally refrain from luxurious foods - this, along with Good Friday, is one of the "strict fast" days in the Catholic calendar (although traditionally, the Christmas Eve is also a day of fasting in Poland, with the Christmas Eve dinner featuring only fish). Fish btw is not considered "meat", same with eggs.

During the entire Lent, Catholics are supposed to refrain from parties and dancing, and on Fridays they are also supposed to fast but this is not as strictly enforced.

I remember as a kid all these things used to be a big deal, but these days both the fasting and dancing thing is not really observed by younger people, including Catholics.

There is also a concept of giving up some vices (sex, masturbation, alcohol, tobacco, etc.) for lent, but again this is optional.

During the Lent period, in Catholic churches there is a special Friday evening ritual (not a holy mass btw) called the Stations of the Cross ("Droga Krzyżowa"), which involves people meditating on Christ's path to Calvary - this is the same as done by the Pope in the Collisseum on the Good Friday. I remember being forced to go to these as a kid, by the pressure from the priest.  <_<
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: 11B4V on February 23, 2012, 10:59:46 AM
That stuff looks normal.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 11:18:10 AM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 10:57:37 AM
A lot of stuff Sheilbh mentions is also reflected in Polish culture/religiosity, so I suspect this is more of an European Catholic thing.
I think a lot of the Fat Tuesday stuff is a bit deeper, but it does seem common across Europe. 

It probably started as something Catholic or Orthodox but it's since survived the Reformation.  As I say pancake day and lent here aren't terribly religious.  I've a friend in the Netherlands who said they have a big party and feasting before Ash Wednesday even though the Netherlands is officially Calvinist and not really that religious.

We have hot cross buns in the run-up to Easter too:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tescorealfood.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2FHot-Cross-Buns%2520Hero-02d32166-4f37-43b8-b6e8-3489fd75aa04-0-472x310.jpg&hash=26a3d1ba75335d09c13f8ef6cde2cff971380d9a)
Apparently they tried to ban them during the Reformation but they were too popular so Elizabeth allowed bakeries to sell them but only on Christmas and Easter.  Though you can get them all year round now they're still associated with Easter and they're normally cheap this time of year :mmm:

We have the Stations of the Cross too and, yeah, for the Catholics Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are supposed to be fast days.  You don't eat anything all day unless you're old, very young, pregnant or ill.

Though as I say I'm surprised it's so religious and rarely observed in the US.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 11:19:27 AM
I admit it's not a flattering pic, better looking ones are like brown-reddish versions of the normal ones.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdiariodepontevedra.galiciae.com%2Farquivo%2F65095&hash=b9687176d12f60e06d45711055fe727c0f40658e)

They're a bit like blood puddings in that they also normally contain pine nuts and raisins.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 11:25:41 AM
Here "fast" means you just don't eat meat and sweets (and possibly butter). I guess Poles like food too much to put up with "not eating anything" - only the fanatics do that.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Grey Fox on February 23, 2012, 11:52:09 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 11:18:10 AM
Though as I say I'm surprised it's so religious and rarely observed in the US.

I always figured it was because the Baptist don't seem to observe any of those things.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 12:18:08 PM
Yeah, to me the customs surrounding the end of the Carnivale and the Lent itself are a quintessential Catholic thing. There is very little actual spirituality in that, but a lot of obscure ritual and "fun" stuff (like sinful excess followed by for-show penance). I could see how Puritans, Baptists and the like would consider it to be some of the worst examples of Catholic excesses.

To me, stuff like this actually makes it worth to be a Catholic - a bunch of middle class people reading Bible and refraining from alcohol and sodomy is where the snooze fest begins.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: FunkMonk on February 23, 2012, 12:20:13 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on February 23, 2012, 10:38:36 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 23, 2012, 10:34:47 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 10:20:02 AM
QuoteIn my region a traditional carnival dessert are "filloas", which are sorta like French crepes, so not quite pancakes and traditionally sweet, but you get the idea. 
Just looked up the recipe and it's basically the same.  The British one is normally just flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt so you can have savoury and sweet.  Is that Galician or all over Spain?

Also what do you do with the blood?  I'm imagining like large thin slices of black pudding :mmm:

It's basically Galician, although you can find them a bit around the NW of Spain.

And a "Filloa de sangue" looks like this:

big pile of shit

It's basically the same recipe than the normal one, but with added pig blood in the mixture.

That looks like a big pile of shit.

:lol:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Eddie Teach on February 23, 2012, 12:23:15 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 12:18:08 PM
To me, stuff like this actually makes it worth to be a Catholic

The only thing that would make it worthwhile to be any type of Christian would be getting into Heaven/avoiding Hell.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: fhdz on February 23, 2012, 12:24:30 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on February 23, 2012, 12:23:15 PM
The only thing that would make it worthwhile to be any type of Christian would be getting into Heaven/avoiding Hell.

True story. The trappings are neat, but they're just trappings.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Josephus on February 23, 2012, 02:35:58 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 12:18:08 PM
Yeah, to me the customs surrounding the end of the Carnivale and the Lent itself are a quintessential Catholic thing. There is very little actual spirituality in that, but a lot of obscure ritual and "fun" stuff (like sinful excess followed by for-show penance). I could see how Puritans, Baptists and the like would consider it to be some of the worst examples of Catholic excesses.

To me, stuff like this actually makes it worth to be a Catholic - a bunch of middle class people reading Bible and refraining from alcohol and sodomy is where the snooze fest begins.

FYI....Catholics frown on that whole sodomy thing.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Maximus on February 23, 2012, 02:39:26 PM
Where does the tradition of Lent come from anyway? Is it an adaptation of some pre-Christian custom or an invention of the Roman church?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: HVC on February 23, 2012, 03:20:21 PM
Quote from: Maximus on February 23, 2012, 02:39:26 PM
Where does the tradition of Lent come from anyway? Is it an adaptation of some pre-Christian custom or an invention of the Roman church?
it's when we remember jesus' 40 day camping trip in the desert. not sure if it was copied from other religions, but i know the jews had a thing for 40 days.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Scipio on February 23, 2012, 03:58:02 PM
Quote from: HVC on February 23, 2012, 03:20:21 PM
Quote from: Maximus on February 23, 2012, 02:39:26 PM
Where does the tradition of Lent come from anyway? Is it an adaptation of some pre-Christian custom or an invention of the Roman church?
it's when we remember jesus' 40 day camping trip in the desert. not sure if it was copied from other religions, but i know the jews had a thing for 40 days.
In the OT, 40 is the number you tack onto a measure of time to indicate it's really long.  40 days=a lot of days.  40 years=a lot of years.  40 minutes=typical Southern Baptist sermon.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Josephus on February 23, 2012, 05:36:59 PM
40 years old = fucking dead man!
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 05:39:38 PM
Quote from: Josephus on February 23, 2012, 02:35:58 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 12:18:08 PM
Yeah, to me the customs surrounding the end of the Carnivale and the Lent itself are a quintessential Catholic thing. There is very little actual spirituality in that, but a lot of obscure ritual and "fun" stuff (like sinful excess followed by for-show penance). I could see how Puritans, Baptists and the like would consider it to be some of the worst examples of Catholic excesses.

To me, stuff like this actually makes it worth to be a Catholic - a bunch of middle class people reading Bible and refraining from alcohol and sodomy is where the snooze fest begins.

FYI....Catholics frown on that whole sodomy thing.

Catholics sin all the time - you just need to go to a confession and get an absolution.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: The Brain on February 23, 2012, 06:08:31 PM
Never played the game of Lent.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 06:20:30 PM
Quote from: Maximus on February 23, 2012, 02:39:26 PM
Where does the tradition of Lent come from anyway? Is it an adaptation of some pre-Christian custom or an invention of the Roman church?
It's in all the Orthodox Churches (the Great Lent) so it's not a Roman thing and my understanding is that it's mentioned in the Council of Nicaea for timekeeping purposes.  There's lots of stuff before then about an Easter fast but Lent as forty days emerges afterwards.  Apparently the ancient fasting was more severe and resembled Ramadan in that you weren't allowed to eat during daylight hours, plus certain foods were entirely banned.

I don't know of any clear pagan comparison as with Easter or Christmas.  The nearest comparisons are in other organised religions.  The Muslims have Ramadan and I'm fairly sure there are some Jewish fast days.  I think the Buddhists and Hindus have fasting periods before some major festivals too.  So I think it's more likely it's a growth from Easter as the major festival combined with general religious traditions of fasting, abstinence and reflection - possibly more to do with the early Church's love of hermits and self-denial?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: dps on February 23, 2012, 06:41:46 PM
Quote from: Josephus on February 23, 2012, 02:35:58 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 12:18:08 PM
Yeah, to me the customs surrounding the end of the Carnivale and the Lent itself are a quintessential Catholic thing. There is very little actual spirituality in that, but a lot of obscure ritual and "fun" stuff (like sinful excess followed by for-show penance). I could see how Puritans, Baptists and the like would consider it to be some of the worst examples of Catholic excesses.

To me, stuff like this actually makes it worth to be a Catholic - a bunch of middle class people reading Bible and refraining from alcohol and sodomy is where the snooze fest begins.

FYI....Catholics frown on that whole sodomy thing.

They'll look the other way, though, if it's priest on small boy action.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Caliga on February 23, 2012, 07:33:31 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 10:57:37 AM
We have the Fat Thursday (the Thursday preceding the Ash Wednesday), and the Shrove Tuesday (literally "Leftovers") when people eat a lot of sweets, especially "paczki" (jelly-filled dougnuts) and "faworki" (crisp delicate pastry made of dough twisted into ribbons, deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar).
Believe it or not I've seen paczki at grocery stores here around this time of year.  There were a lot of Polacks in my area when I was growing up, so we ate them too... where I heard them pronounced "pozz-key".  Just yesterday I was talking to one of my co-workers in Chicago about paczki and he pronounced them like "ponch-key".  His name is Wojciech so I'm guessing he must be of Polish extraction. :hmm:
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Brazen on February 24, 2012, 05:46:15 AM
I'm amused by the fact that Lent is actually 46 days long but you get Sundays off from shriving. This presumably represents when the ice-cream van drove through the desert and Jesus had a 99 to sustain himself.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on February 24, 2012, 05:50:00 AM
I always enjoyed watching my friends at StMU suffer while trying to quit smoking during lent.  One of the benefits of going to a Catholic school while not being Catholic.

e:  Also "what the fuck is that on your face?" whenever that whole thing is.

And because I want to go back and do all that again, hey check it out:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fitoursanantonio.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F07%2F336px-Eisenhower_with_Mamie-in-front-of-st-marys-college-san-antonio-1916.jpg&hash=9fe9bacc845c4608cee585c7bbb6daeb377b5de4)

Ike and Mamie in front of St. Louis Hall kind of a while ago.  The head ball coach was pretty damn young (25-26ish, I think) in this photo.  Those doors are pretty beat up these days. 
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Martinus on February 24, 2012, 06:17:38 AM
Quote from: Caliga on February 23, 2012, 07:33:31 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 10:57:37 AM
We have the Fat Thursday (the Thursday preceding the Ash Wednesday), and the Shrove Tuesday (literally "Leftovers") when people eat a lot of sweets, especially "paczki" (jelly-filled dougnuts) and "faworki" (crisp delicate pastry made of dough twisted into ribbons, deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar).
Believe it or not I've seen paczki at grocery stores here around this time of year.  There were a lot of Polacks in my area when I was growing up, so we ate them too... where I heard them pronounced "pozz-key".  Just yesterday I was talking to one of my co-workers in Chicago about paczki and he pronounced them like "ponch-key".  His name is Wojciech so I'm guessing he must be of Polish extraction. :hmm:

"Ponch-key" is closer to the correct pronounciation.

If you know French, the "a" in "paczki" is actually pronounced more like the French "on", since it is a nasal vowel spelled "ą" (just that the comma s frequently ommitted in non-Polish transcripts).
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 24, 2012, 07:48:58 AM
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on February 24, 2012, 05:50:00 AM
I always enjoyed watching my friends at StMU suffer while trying to quit smoking during lent.  One of the benefits of going to a Catholic school while not being Catholic.

e:  Also "what the fuck is that on your face?" whenever that whole thing is.

You mean, Ash from Mass? Stay classy, MBM.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on February 24, 2012, 07:53:55 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 24, 2012, 07:48:58 AM
You mean, Ash from Mass? Stay classy, MBM.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2Fsvt0e0.jpg&hash=1eae4909a9c5c2465db3efc15f6ef2c01ed7ad08)

I ooze class.  Did I mention my wife's family is Catholic too?  It's the gift that keeps on giving.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 24, 2012, 08:00:10 AM
It's just we expect that kind of stuff from gay Polish pedo-apologists and other ignorant dirt farmers, s'all.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on February 24, 2012, 08:03:30 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 24, 2012, 08:00:10 AM
It's just we expect that kind of stuff from gay Polish pedo-apologists and other ignorant dirt farmers, s'all.

Nah, I don't mess with the farmers (e: or Polacks I guess, although that's more of a Languish thing, since I honestly can't think of any I know in real life...I don't really talk to Marty directly either though vOv).  It's only fun when they take a big shit on my beliefs right back and throw smokes at me when I'm trying to quit and all that.  It's all about who you interact with.

Title: Re: Lent
Post by: alfred russel on February 24, 2012, 12:12:24 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 05:39:38 PM
Catholics sin all the time - you just need to go to a confession and get an absolution.

Have you ever tried this? If so, what was the response?
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Razgovory on February 24, 2012, 04:23:16 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on February 24, 2012, 12:12:24 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 05:39:38 PM
Catholics sin all the time - you just need to go to a confession and get an absolution.

Have you ever tried this? If so, what was the response?

"You are forgiven, go pray a bit and think on what you did".  I imagine it's a bit different if you do something really bad, like murdered three people on the way to church and then dinged the Priest's car in the parking lot.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: dps on February 24, 2012, 11:18:39 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 24, 2012, 04:23:16 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on February 24, 2012, 12:12:24 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 05:39:38 PM
Catholics sin all the time - you just need to go to a confession and get an absolution.

Have you ever tried this? If so, what was the response?

"You are forgiven, go pray a bit and think on what you did".  I imagine it's a bit different if you do something really bad, like murdered three people on the way to church and then dinged the Priest's car in the parking lot.

Generally, I think that if you confess to major felonies that the priest will tell you that to receive absolution you have to turn yourself in to the police.  They aren't allowed to turn you in, but they are certainly allowed to tell you to turn yourself in.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: OttoVonBismarck on February 25, 2012, 01:39:59 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on February 23, 2012, 06:20:30 PMIt's in all the Orthodox Churches (the Great Lent) so it's not a Roman thing and my understanding is that it's mentioned in the Council of Nicaea for timekeeping purposes.  There's lots of stuff before then about an Easter fast but Lent as forty days emerges afterwards.  Apparently the ancient fasting was more severe and resembled Ramadan in that you weren't allowed to eat during daylight hours, plus certain foods were entirely banned.

I don't know of any clear pagan comparison as with Easter or Christmas.  The nearest comparisons are in other organised religions.  The Muslims have Ramadan and I'm fairly sure there are some Jewish fast days.  I think the Buddhists and Hindus have fasting periods before some major festivals too.  So I think it's more likely it's a growth from Easter as the major festival combined with general religious traditions of fasting, abstinence and reflection - possibly more to do with the early Church's love of hermits and self-denial?

Of the Abrahamic religions I think Orthodox Christians have the most serious fasting by far. But like most things it's really complicated. A ultra-conservative Ortho is technically supposed to fast almost every Wednesday and Friday, however it's more of a "restricted food groups" fast and not a true total fast. However, the doctrine is that you have to avoid all the bad food groups and eat modestly of anything else. It's not supposed to be a license to eat five pounds of stuff not on the prohibited list. During major holiday seasons Orthodox also have fasts which are far more severe than anything you'd see in Islam or Catholicism.

Ramadan by the way is really almost not thought of as fasting. On average, people actually gain weight during Ramadan. This is because they go all daylight hours without eating, then around night fall get together at huge parties and literally gorge on huge amounts of food. It's actually statistically more likely that you gain weight during Ramadan.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: Razgovory on February 25, 2012, 12:20:47 PM
Quote from: dps on February 24, 2012, 11:18:39 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on February 24, 2012, 04:23:16 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on February 24, 2012, 12:12:24 PM
Quote from: Martinus on February 23, 2012, 05:39:38 PM
Catholics sin all the time - you just need to go to a confession and get an absolution.

Have you ever tried this? If so, what was the response?

"You are forgiven, go pray a bit and think on what you did".  I imagine it's a bit different if you do something really bad, like murdered three people on the way to church and then dinged the Priest's car in the parking lot.

Generally, I think that if you confess to major felonies that the priest will tell you that to receive absolution you have to turn yourself in to the police.  They aren't allowed to turn you in, but they are certainly allowed to tell you to turn yourself in.

May make you pay for the damage to his car though.
Title: Re: Lent
Post by: OttoVonBismarck on February 25, 2012, 07:06:41 PM
Pączki is one of the few good things to ever come out of Pollackistan, there is a bakery near work that makes them regularly, fucking amazing with raspberry or blueberry filling.