Burying the Sardine!

Shrove Tuesday is well known as the eve of lent and in the UK we traditionally have pancakes - but do you know why? Well, the BBC website says.....

According to Christian beliefs, Lent commemorates Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, and observant Christians mark this period by fasting. So Shrove Tuesday was cleverly invented to use up the ingredients that were given up for Lent - milk, butter and, particularly, eggs - which may not be eaten again until Easter. (Presumably that's why we gorge ourselves silly on Easter Eggs)


Pasted from <http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/news_and_events/events_pancakes.shtml>



So, in keeping with tradition we have had pancakes tonight - and we even made a smaller pancake for the pups - and boy, did they enjoy the treat!



I decided I should have a look at what is traditional in Spain on the eve of lent. There are Carnivals all over Spain in the run up to lent, as the Spanish enjoy a good party and if they are going to be giving up for lent, they have several days of partying ending on Shrove Tuesday. It was then I came across the ceremony of Burying the Sardine! or to give it it's correct title
El Entierro de la Sardina.

There are 2 different stories as to the origin of this tradition, yet no one seems to know for sure when one is true. The first story dates back to the XVII century, when Charles III, King of Spain, who wanted to celebrate the end of the festival with the commoners, ordered sardines and wine to be served at the countryside picnic. The weather that day was hot, very typical at the time of year, and the sardines began to smell foul due to the heat. The people wanted to get rid of the bad smell and realized the only way to achieve that was to bury them. The king consented to this. The people wept at the thought of no longer getting free food and having to begin the observant period of abstinence.

The other story goes that in past years when Cuaresma was dutifully observed by all, a breed of pig called “sardine” was buried on the first day of this Saintly period, in representation of the meat they would have to forfeit eating during the religious observation period. This pig’s breed name sardine became popular.

What follows next depends on the city celebrating the burial. Cities that are not near water do not bury the sardine, they burn it in a symbolic cremation, similar to Valencia’s cremá de las Fallas. In cities nearer the sea or rivers, the sardine is buried or it may also be burned. Its “ashes” are scattered into the sea, or it is taken out to the open ocean on a boat symbolizing the sardine’s return “home” and the close of the carnival festivities.
Pasted from <http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/fiestas/entierrodelasardina.asp>

I think I'll stick with the pancakes.