Lenten Season Reminder: Food to Eat During Holy Week

One of the Catholic holidays that has been observed for some time is the Lenten Season. This brought attention to Holy Week, which commemorates the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ—the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. This is also a time for prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and self-conversion through repentance.

As a predominantly Christian nation with a sizable Roman Catholic population, the Philippines observes Lent and Holy Week in a variety of ways. During this season, a number of traditions and practices related to fasting and spiritual discipline are observed. Fasting and abstinence as a sacrifice are two noteworthy rituals. Typically most Catholics fast at the beginning of Ash Wednesday by partaking one full meal a day and abstaining meat on Fridays.

What is Lenten Season?

The Lenten Season or also called Holy Week is a period of fasting, penance, and reflection for Christians that lasts for approximately 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a time for Christians to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross and to renew their commitment to living a life of faith.

The Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, which marks the commencement of a period of fasting and abstinence. During Holy Week, Christians are encouraged to give up something that they enjoy, such as a favorite food or activity, as a form of sacrifice and self-discipline. The purpose of this sacrifice is to help Christians focus on their spiritual lives and to grow closer to God.

The final week of the Christian Lenten season or the week preceding Easter is known as Holy Week. Christians view it as a kind of journey that leads to the ultimate goal. On a Palm Sunday, it starts, and on Easter Sunday, it finishes. Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Mark Holy Wednesday as into the night. In addition to representing the disciples' rejection of Jesus, it also portends the sorrow and suffering of Good Friday. The Last Supper with Jesus and His disciples, the betrayal of one of His disciples, and Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane are all commemorated on Maundy or Holy Thursday. Jesus' agony on the cross is commemorated on Good Friday. It honors Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate condemned him to death, crucifixion, and torture. The word "good" was used to refer to this day in the meaning of "holy," "pious," or Holy Friday. For Christians, it is the most solemn day as the death and burial of Jesus are recalled. The visitation of Jesus' tomb takes place on Holy Saturday. The joyful celebration of the first Eucharist of Easter marks the end of the season.

The purpose of the Lenten Season is to reflect on and remember Jesus Christ's life and love for all people. Some believe that this time of year represents the beginning of paradise and the promise of eternal life for everyone.

Things to Consider During the Lenten Season

Filipinos adhere to the custom of practicing their religion with sincerity and total respect. As a result, our regular favorites will be sacrificed in order to honor the devotees' unwavering faith. There is no specific dietary requirement or restriction during the Holy Week or "Semana Santa". However, some Christians choose to observe fasting and abstinence as a way of showing penance and dedication to God.

The Catholic Church, for example, has guidelines for fasting and abstinence during Lent, which include the following:

1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the days of fasting. This means that Catholics are expected to eat only a full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal the full meal. They are also expected to abstain from meat on these days.

2. Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence, which means that Catholics who are 14 years of age or older are expected to abstain from meat on these days.

3. In addition to these guidelines, Catholics are encouraged to practice other forms of self-discipline and sacrifice during Lent, such as giving up a favorite food or activity.

During the Lenten Season, there are numerous convictions, practices, and customs. One interesting point is the food to eat during Holy Week. There's the food during Lenten that we want to keep away from and furthermore food varieties that we can be ready to eat. Many people have a yearly practice and custom of forbearance - one more layer of Lenten fasting. Under this tradition is an act to abstain from eating meat. Roman Catholics have something to forfeit during this season. Here are some food during Holy Week that you need to keep away from.

• Red meat (e.g.: pork, beef, ham, ham, etc.)

• Chicken

• Desserts (e.g.: candies, cakes, sweets, etc.)

• Alcoholic beverages

• Fast-food meals

During this Holy Week, here are some alternatives that you might like to eat instead:

• Various kinds of seafood

• Vegetable dish (fresh spring rolls, stir fried vegetables, sauteed mung bean sprouts, sauteed bitter melon, string beans, etc.)

• Fruits

• Yogurt and Milk

• Salad
   

It is one of the vital seasons for a number of Filipino Catholics. Customs and functions are packed in the Philippines during the Lent season, particularly during the Holy Week. Avoiding eating meat is one of the most observed by practicing self-restraint and cooperation in the penitence season.

Then again, Filipinos love to eat, without a doubt every other person does! Foods are delicious and seductive, which occasionally draws us in. The primary obstacle that was anticipated here is anticipating that during Lent, we will prefer to eat those leafy vegetables and simple things, but sadly, some people don't like it.

But did you know that there are easy to make dish and menu we can eat during Lent and Holy Week? So maybe the list of Filipino cuisine below will help you eat well and reflect at this time.

Menu Idea for the Lenten Season

1. Pinakbet - It is a dish native to the northern part of the Philippines, Ilocos. This Ilocano dish has a unique flavor as it uses shrimp paste as one of the main recipes along with herbal ingredients. This is a Filipino Lenten perfect dish that you must include in your menu this season.

2. Ginisang Munggo - It is one of the most sound and most loved go-to food this Lenten season that you ought to put on your rundown. Ginisang munggo is a vegetable soup with mung beans or called munggo, dahon ng sili or stew leave, and the shrimp that give the soup extra flavor. It is vastly improved with chicharron yet that can be effortlessly barred.

3. Tortang Talong

This is quite possibly one of the yummiest unique Filipino-made omelets. You can ready to have this for breakfast, lunch, to supper. This becomes more flavorful with ketchup. Cooking tortang talong requires toasting the eggplant first, eliminating the skin, and smoothing it on the plate. It is typically cooked into a layer of fried eggs with salt and pepper (to taste), and sweet-smelling aromatics like garlic, tomatoes, and onions.

4. Ensaladang Talong

This is an eggplant salad that merits a spot on your menu this Holy Week. To make this eggplant salad, you will need eggplant (which ought to be barbecued), tomatoes, onion, vinegar, and bagoong alamang to add an additional kick to the kind of the plate of mixed greens.

5. Ginisang Ampalaya (with egg)

Bitter melon or normally known as ampalaya is an entirely recommendable Filipino menu this Lenten season. This is without a doubt a very delicious vegetable dish! This is quite possibly of the most well-known Filipino dish that is consistently served for regular dinners.

6. Pinangat na Isda

The food that will make your Holy Week delightful. It is a cooking method from the southern part of the Philippines that outcomes in sharp flavors that you might contrast with sinigang. Pinangat is conventional making stocks from tomatoes, tamarind, santol, calamansi, and bilimbi. Fish and shrimp are pinangat's most generally utilized dish here.

7. Sweet and Sour Fish

You can in any case partake in all aspects of the Sacred Week without eating red meat by having this delightful dinner. It is one of the most amazing Filipino food sources for the Lenten season that you might appreciate with your friends and family. This isn't just giving different flavor blends to Filipinos during Holy Week yet in addition can give you fulfillment as an option in contrast to your desires without breaking any traditions.

Beside the dishes referenced above, here are some other Filipino flavorful dishes for this Holy Week:

• Kangkong in Oyster Sauce

• Ginataang sitaw with crab

• Bulanglang

• Daing na Bangus

• Buttered Garlic Shrimp

• Lumpiang Sariwa

• Inihaw na Pusit

• Fish Sisig

• Rellenong Bangus

• Baked Tahong

• Ginataang Tilapia

• Grilled Tilapia

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