Palm Sunday and Easter

[barnhart]

I think this is mostly how Christmas was celebrated in my tradition. Family time, holiday from work, special food, gifts, southern lamb (ham but don't tell George) etc ...

We interpret Acts 10:9-16 as meaning the old clean-unclean kosher regulations of Judaism no longer applied. In fact I seem to remember that the only food we're told to avoid was when Paul said if it causes a weaker brother to stumble then don't eat the meat sacrificed in pagan temples. It really doesn't mean the meat itself is unclean. It's about how eating that meat can be misunderstood in someone else's eyes. I know why we eat ham. It's because lamb really wasn't a livestock option in these parts. We have 4 meat options here. Beef (if it's cheap enough). Pork because it's plentiful. And Chicken. It there's enough deer around that's our 4th option. Wild turkeys aren't always plentiful from year to year. I personally don't think Jesus would get upset as long as we remember why we celebrate and live our lives to honor him.

In my southern cultural region late fall/early winter was slaughter season when meat could reliably be hung and cured without decaying from the heat. This is where the traditional Christmas pork and Easter ham developed, in December the meat was fresh and by April the hams were cured. Pigs were the livestock of poverty becayof their resilience and ability to thrive on a wide variety of feed. In Georgia if things got really tight and you couldn't feed the hogs, some people would turn them loose in the swamp to forage and hunt them down in the fall.

[JohnL]

In my southern cultural region late fall/early winter was slaughter season when meat could reliably be hung and cured without decaying from the heat. This is where the traditional Christmas pork and Easter ham developed, in December the meat was fresh and by April the hams were cured. Pigs were the livestock of poverty becayof their resilience and ability to thrive on a wide variety of feed. In Georgia if things got really tight and you couldn't feed the hogs, some people would turn them loose in the swamp to forage and hunt them down in the fall.

That pretty much was the way things were around here in NC until the grocery stores popped up and people could just go and pick out a ham. By that time ham was the traditional meat for Easter. A few folks follow the slaughter and cure model still but they're getting fewer all the time because of developers. We still have some wild pig populations that grew out of the foraging practice.

[JohnH]

That pretty much was the way things were around here in NC until the grocery stores popped up and people could just go and pick out a ham. By that time ham was the traditional meat for Easter. A few folks follow the slaughter and cure model still but they're getting fewer all the time because of developers. We still have some wild pig populations that grew out of the foraging practice.

"Until the grocery stores popped up", when, back in the 19th century?

[JayP]

Going back to the relationship of Palm Sunday toEaster, and the placement of remembering the Passion of Christ, I think it interesting that in the RCC the name of the mass on Palm Sunday is called The mass of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s passion. The readings from the gospel is lengthy going from the Palm Sunday events all the was to the Passion and crucifixion. Since we make a big deal out of all sorts of details and celebrate each day of Holy Week it may seem odd that we squeeze the Passion over into Palm Sunday.

But I appreciate that unlike this parable here, or that story there, which can sort of stand alone, Palm Sunday through Good Friday is best seen in full context and continuity. Myself, I really value the Stations of the Cross devotional on Friday evening, where we pray through the different steps Christ walked on Good Friday.

I was always a bit annoyed that some in Anabaptist circles emphasize so strongly the NOT practicing holidays. I respect each persons choice, but some who chose NOT seem to do so in a way that tried to be a statement to those that do.

I sincerely hope everyone has a blessed and beneficial Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.