Or Mardi Gras. Whatever you want to call it.
What I should've baked this weekend was a king cake!
Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. Although we Presbyterians/Methodists aren’t as serious about Lent as other denominations, some years I’ve given something up for those 40 days (or tried to give something up).
My friends growing up did this, too, so it was fun to take a poll at school to see who was giving up what.
Usual suspects included ice cream and soft drinks.
FYI: In the South, we refer to soft drinks as "Coke," meaning you ask a guest, "Do you want a coke?" They then respond, "Yes, what do you have?" Then, you say, "Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite..." It makes complete sense.
Unusual suspects included pillows (my friend’s sister once gave up her pillow — I didn’t quite get it).
Unusual Lenten sacrifice....
My college doubles partner gave up chocolate one year. She split sets once during the Lenten period, and we had to run around to find her an energy bar that did not contain chocolate (we succeeded and she won her match, too).
This year I think I might try to give something up.
Non-negotiable items include: coffee, Soul Cycle, the RC, chocolate, my pillow, and Just Salad.
Negotiable items include: mani/pedis, Diet Coke, ice cream, cookies.
I’m thinking mani/pedis might be a good one.
BUT I LOVE TRYING ALL OF THE NEW ESSIE NAIL POLISHES...
SO, I AM TAKING A POLL: ARE YOU GIVING UP SOMETHING FOR LENT? HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN SOMETHING UP FOR LENT? IF SO, WHAT?
Until next time…
As a southerner myself, I completely understand the Coke thing. I’m just Baptist but have always given up something. This year I’m going to quit biting my nails! Maybe in 40 days I’ll treat myself to a mani if I can stick with it!
Happy fat Tuesday!!
I am so glad someone understands the “coke” thing. It is very confusing to people up here. Kind of like the term “waiting on line” was confusing to me at first, too. You wait IN a line, not ON a line.
“‘m just Baptist…”
Sorry… That bit cracked me up.
sweets AND PB. since theyve been a disgustingly large part of my diet since christmas. nonnegotiables for me are always coffee and wine. bahahaha
I feel you on the sweets since Christmas!
No I don’t think I’ve ever given anything up. Perhaps I should this year…
I vote you give up the Diet Coke! I gave up soda in high school and have never looked back. Now I only drink it if it’s mixed with alcohol, haha (which is to say, not too often).
so i totally thought lent started last week…oops! once in gave up sweets and succeeded (it was dumb but i was proud of myself). this year i’m giving up ice cream, only b/c of my GI issues. it just happens to coincide with lent
i could never give up good ol’ DC!!!
I want someone to explain to me why diet coke is so refreshing…
Two years ago I gave up Time-Sucking websites….and it was TOUGH! No Facebook, blogs, People.com (which I love!)
But I did read a lot more novels. WIN!
I need to give up time-sucking websites….
As a half-Jew, I do not give up anything for Lent, and yet feel guilty about it.
hahaha. It’s ok, I’ve never fasted for religion and feel bad about it, too.
I have actually never given anything up for Lent. I guess I am not super religious in the practicing sense. I consider myself more spiritual. I can’t imagine giving up my pillow! :O
What I wish I could give up? Going to work.
Agreed. Can’t we all give up Fridays or Mondays for Lent??
Lent Fridays? Kind of like summer Fridays?
haha – I’m not sure you can, but can’t hurt to try – ha!
I have always given up something for lent … its usually a food related item. When I was a kid usually candy or cereal. As an adult I have given up wine, peanut butter, meat, dairy. It HARD and ill be honest I usually cheat but I try.
This year I think I am going to give up chips. There are always pop chips & baked kettle chips in my house and its such a go to snack for me. I need to eat something healthier.
I want to both smack and hug the person who invented pop chips. Salt and Vinegar Pop Chips are crazy good.
I have no idea what pop chips are.
I grew up in a psedo jewish household, so we didn’t celebrate lent. I do think I once gave up cookies because all my friends were.
At home, the “lent giving up thing” is very cultural ie around the lunch table, “I can’t eat thin mints right now because I gave up chocolate for lent…I gave up coke for lent.”
As a Presbyterian, we don’t really practice Lent, but I’ve given stuff up for it in the past. I gave up soda (“pop” where I’m from, btw, but I’ve been in NYC for 7.5+ years and now it sounds weird to me) one year in college and haven’t had it since. This year I *should* give up beer, but… no thanks! I could also stand to give up cheese or peanut butter or sweets… but again– no thanks! Since I can’t have my one vice (running) I am over-indulging in the others. Healthy, no?
Your line of thinking is totally correct, in my opinion! If you can’t have one indulgence, you must have your other ones!
I’m going to try and give up dessert….
Aww, man, no fro-yo dates?
Oh wow, mani/pedis might be a hard one for you! I’m not religious in that way, so I don’t really do lent. Also, how could anyone give up a pillow?? that is crazy
Mani/pedis really might be difficult. I mean, I want to try all of the nail polish colors for spring, but don’t want to commit to buying one…..
I used to give up things for Lent. Over the past few years, I’ve been taking on things instead. Much more enriching. Two years in a row I read The Purpose Driven Life (perfect as it’s in 40 sections, and YES, it was THAT good to do it twice). Things I take on include random acts of kindness, minutes of solitude/meditation, drinking more water, etc. I am of the opinion that we gain and grow more from making positive commitments. I’d rather not give something up just to lament about it, brag about it, get sympathy for it, etc. Especially if I’m just gonna pick it back up on Easter morning. Why not form a good habit instead?
I love this! What a great concept!!!