To fast or not to fast

Ash Wednesday which is on February 6th, 2008 coincides with Chinese New Year’s Eve. The Catholic churches in Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia have got the o.k. from Vatican for Catholics to celebrate Ash Wednesday’s mass on February 6th but the ashes will only be imposed on the following week. That means, no burning of the palms from last year Palm Sunday and the cross made on the foreheads with the ashes.

That means on Chinese New Year’s Eve, we do not have to go on vegetarian fast as the church has taken into consideration the tradition and culture of the Chinese to celebrate the important reunion dinner with their families.

However…..hehehe, I am now wondering if I have the discipline to start the vegetarian fast one day after Ash Wednesady (Chinese New Year day) like I have done in the previous years. For the last two years, I have gone on a vegetarian fast from Ash Wednesday till Good Friday which is a total of 40 days. I only omit all meats and seafoods but take eggs and whatever soup or anything that I don’t ’see’ the meat. LOL.

I shall see. Let me pray over it and see if I shall go on vegetarian fasting from the first day of Chinese New Year or I shall declare the fast starts on Sunday (i.e. 4th day of Chinese New Year). Catholics are not compelled to fast this way but we are asked to abstain on Fridays. However, I do the vegetarian fasting because it is my annual detox and also my way of discipline.

My children are betting that I won’t be able to refrain from all the good foods on Chinese New Year. However, I reminded them all the good foods come from my cooking so I can stop cooking meats and torture them with nothing by vegetables. LOL, I am just joking with them of course. I shall see if it is convenient for me as I do not want to create any fuss if others expect me to enjoy their foods.

I have linked all the vegetarian words to my food blog at Best Recipes as in the previous years, I know it is a big struggle eventhough it sounds quite easy. Though it may seems like a small task, I need to turn to some faith to keep going when the prawns, crabs and juicy steaks are calling me.

Tags: fasting, good friday, lent