If you are Catholic, or some other various religions, today has some meaning for you. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. To most Catholics this means you don't eat meat today, or any Fridays for the next 46 (it's 40 days of Lent but they don't count Sundays) days. Many people also like to make some kind of sacrifice, such as giving up a favorite food, giving more money, or doing some other service work. I have pondered this and I believe I've made my decision. I can't remember if you are allowed to tell people or if it's like your birthday wish, it doesn't work if you say it out loud. But, I know at least for many coming days I will have to return to vegetarian ways.

If you've read my previous blog, you know I used to be a vegetarian. It's been since July that I have returned to the meaty path. Most of the time I'm ok with it. I have found that I really like chicken and steak and shrimp but could do without most other things. And some fish. I always thought it was humorous that Fridays in Lent are "fish day" in many cafeterias and they even hold a catfish fry at my church. When did this poor creature turn out to be not meat? I've read from an Orthodox website it was in honor, or necessity, of all the fishermen in the Middle East area, and that many of the disciples were fishermen. There was also a reference from Wales, I think, that said beaver tails were considered fish, because of their shape, and therefore ok to eat. This was out of necessity because of the prevalence of beavers at the time. So, many traditions are out of need for food and not wanting to step on anyone's toes, rather than devotion.

While reading about Lent, fasting, Carnival ("Farwell to meat") and other interesting bits of lore, I turned back to the vegetarian websites. There was an interesting textual analysis of the creature in "Frankenstein" and why he was a vegetarian. I admit I've never read the novel, just watched the cheesy old films. I didn't know Frankenstein was a vegetarian. It was actually beautiful writing when the creature is talking about how he only eats acorns and berries and wants to find a mate that has the same ideas as him to share his peaceful life with. Mary Shelley's husband, and she, apparently were much involved in the Romantic Vegetarian movement. This group felt that eating meat led to the immorality of the populace and was bad for health. They had different ideas on the Adam and Eve story- Adam was the instigator by choosing the "tree" to eat from (meat) instead of what was give to them (veggies and fruit) and this caused a slow death because of bad health from the meat instead of the immediate banishment by the Lord. Hmm, it's a different way of looking at it.

Then I thought well I wonder if you could eat acorns..... Apparently you can but you have to "leach" them first because they have bitter tannins that you have to wash out. You grind them then put then in a cloth over a strainer and wash until it runs clear. Then you can put it in stew or bread or eat it like oatmeal. For many of the Native Americans, this was their main food source. Might be interesting to try once but I think I'll stick to easier nuts.

So I learned many interesting things. I would like to be a vegetarian most of the time, I think I will do it more often but not totally one way or the other. While I agree that humans are meant to eat MOSTLY plants, I do think that our bodies have accustomed to the protein of the flesh. And I like a nice filet migon sometimes.

Here is also an interesting link from a Catholic priest who is vegetarian
http://animalliberationfront.com/Practical/Shop--ToDo/Religion/JesusVeg_com%20Christianity%20and%20Vegetarianism%20text.htm