Happy Pancake Day!- Shrove Tuesday
Rachel returns from the Observatory today d.v. and I’m looking forward to a Pancake supper at the Church. Some fillings are hard to come by here in Santiago, but I’m sure we’ll find enough Maple Syrup, icecream and fresh cream to go around!
If you didn’t already know, Shrove Tuesday marks the last day before, err… (duh!) Ash Wednesday, which, rather less publicised, is the start of Lent. It is a day for penitence (repentence) and, some might say, indulgence (before starting a sacrifice of something during the Lent period). It’s also a day for celebration, in the knowledge of the events of Easter.
Did you know Mardi Gras means “fat tuesday”? Just a bit of random trivia for you… but some fat french colonialists used to give up fat for Lent and hold a street party in celebration. The name stuck, thus creating an eternal tourist attraction for (predominantly catholic) cities such as Rio de Janeiro.
What are you giving up for Lent? Last year, I had a friend who gave up smoking, successfully (but I guess we probably all have a friend like that and its not the same if they don’t start again after Easter!), but I’ve also heard of people giving up bizarre things like sugar, nutella and fuel consumption! Fuel? It’s not like you eat or drink it! Its hardly a sacrifice taking the bus, is it? I suppose its a good incentive to cycle and walk everywhere if you can. But quite frankly, its winter in Scotland and I can’t imagine doing it here in Chile, let alone in Scotland.
So, perhaps I should consider giving up something I don’t like and that is distracting me from the real meaning of Easter? Something i can always opt into again afterwards… ? Unemployment? Mmmm. Not a bad idea. But I think I’ll stick to evil caffeine or something.