So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Why do we consume Pancakes on a Shrove Tuesday

By Ben Panny


In the past Christians used to visit church to confess their sins and had been absolved from them. This was named "Shriven" or "Shrive". Later this was shortened to Shrove. That's why right now Pancake Day is identified as Shrove Tuesday. But why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

Christians think that Lent commemorated Jesus' 40 days in wilderness and that is why they mark this time by fasting. Shrove Tuesday was the ideal day to use up the ingredients that were given up for Lent: butter, milk, flour and obviously eggs. Pancakes were a dish that could use up all the eggs, butter and milk inside the home with just the addition of flour. A pancake was, in those calorie-starved days, viewed as an extravagance.

In United Kingdom the tradition of producing and consuming pancakes on Shrove Tuesday falls in between 2nd of February and 9th of March. The date of Shrove Tuesday is determined by the date of Easter. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in lots of countries. New Orleans as an example has Mardi Gras, and Rio de Janeiro equally raucous carnival. Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday is identified as 'Fasnacht' in Germany what indicates the night of the fast. In Italy it is named 'Carnivale' from the Latin for 'goodbye to the flesh'. Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans but also in Brazil and Australia.

Catholics created huge tradition around Shrove Tuesday. It has develop into colourful variety of Carnivals around the globe. As well as the word 'carnival' is related to fasting for Lent. One interpretation of this word says that it originated from the Latin 'Caro Vale' that indicates "Farewell Meat". And not merely eating pancakes on a Shrove Tuesday is a well known tradition. At St. Columb Major in Cornwall, rival villages have a custom of playing 'Hurling the Silver Bell', using a ball of applewood covered in silver. In Scarborough, local people delight in the customs of 'Ringing the Pancake Bell' and 'Shrovetide Skipping'. Men and women set up lengthy skipping ropes across the promenade and up to ten folks have to skip at one time.

In Venice the tradition of Carnival is really old. Carnivals have been taking place given that 1268 only with a couple of centuries interruption. Carnivals in Venice are quite well-liked primarily because of the tradition of wearing masks. These masks have even longer history than the Carnival. Masks had been the symbol of protest against oppressive conditions in this little city. The Carnival practically vanished in the 18th century nevertheless it was once again celebrated after new masks were marketed in the shops in the 1980s.

Germany has its extremely ritualistic Carnival and featuring parades, humorous speeches and floats. Today, German Carnival is becoming more and more preferred tourist attraction. It is even from time to time compared to Munich's Oktoberfest. German Carnival is so one of a kind also due to the fact it begins at November 11th at 11:11. Carnival might be cancelled. Last time it was cancelled in 1991 to show the protest against the US war in Iraq.




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