Officially we have to get through Advent first, but the fine Friar Tuck is prepared to help us see this season through.
UPDATE: I kid, but it is weird how we treat Advent in contemporary America. In parts of the Middle Ages, it was a fast almost on par with Lent: a period of purging and preparation for a 12-day feast. Today, it's a 30-day feast in preparation for a six-day feast. Preparation entails a whole series of holiday parties and spending sprees. By the time the day after New Year's rolls around, everyone's gained 15 pounds.
Friar Tuck does seem to be our guide more than others.
I don't think any modern holidays include fasting.
ReplyDeletePerhaps that's why fascination with "cleansing" and the like continue.
Actually, for Eastern Orthodox Christians, it is still a fast almost on par with lent. They fast from meat, fish, and dairy for 40 days, with exceptions for feast days, etc.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteThis would be an ideal year to try out some fasting if you were so inclined, as Advent is only three weeks long this year. It's four Sundays, but Christmas falls on a Monday; thus, the first three Sundays have a week attached to them, but the final Sunday ends on Christmas itself.
So, rather than a 40-day fast, it would be only almost half as long: 22 days, start to finish.