Yes, I gave up coke for Lent. Lent is sort of like Ramadan, except we don't necessarily fast completely - we just choose to give up something as a sacrifice, to symbolize the suffering that Jesus went through in the desert during his 40 days of temptation. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Actually, here\'s tons of info on this, if you're interested.

There's also the practice of not eating meat every Friday, but I've noticed that some people follow this and some don't. Lots of interesting things about this holiday and time period, though...

Something that I've been taught and agree with is that it's probably better to do something to better yourself, such as being kind to others, being more forgiving, and such, rather than just sacrificing a type of food...

I think that coke really was a sacrifice for me, because it's something that I truly love, and I did it simply for Lent, but I also try to keep in mind to better myself as a person, which is what it's more so about. Of course, I try to do that year-round.

Thanks Gina, and it's great that you can bring yourself to do that. I mean, it's not that you have a Spartan life style, but when you like coke that much it must be hard not to drink any for 40 days.

Of course I knew all about this 'ritual' - I'm not that blasphemistic - but I don't participate. And I should have known it was called 'fast', since in my language it is called 'vasten' which is almost the same, with a bit of goodwill.

The season we're in now (spring) is called 'lente' in my language, which resembles 'lent', might be some connection.

Edit: The Wikipedia page confirmed what I thought

I don't give anything up for Lent, since my religion does not require it. This year I gave up potatoe chips and french fries and you know what, I really didn't miss them at all. I think I'll just keep on not eating them (for a while, at least.)

Happy Easter again everybody

Partagas...would you believe I recently found out from a good friend of mine that her family NEVER did an Easter Egg Hunt, that they would just leave the colored eggs for Bunny and he'd just take them away!!! This woman is 50 years old and listened in amazement as I told her of hunting for eggs on Easter morning. I felt (and still feel) very sorry for my friend and her sister for not having grown up with that oh, so special holiday tradition. I just took it for granted that every family did this!!

Anyway...lucky thing is at least now she can have her own children grow up with the egg hunt, if she decides to!

Apple

Happy Easter!