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Post by Blackbird on Dec 16, 2005 15:09:08 GMT -1
Posted this elsewhere, and thought it would be interesting to discuss it here too Various traditions have taboos about certain foods, and I was wondering how many people abide by those today? For example, I won't be partaking of any roast goose this midwinter - I was brought up to believe that geese and swans were kin to us in a strange way... sometimes they are humans transformed, such as the Children of Lir, or reincarnated people. With that knowledge, I could never eat a goose or swan. There are other things for me too - I could never eat horsemeat. Given the close connection between myself and my lifelong Patroness (just sounds better than Matron, lol!), that would be like cannibalism! Nor could I eat hare, that being an animal that I hold to be very sacred. The only exception to these taboos would be for me to take in part of such animals in a ritualistic meal. The ingestion of something is a very powerful thing... but that's not the same as having a 'normal' meal. So what such taboos exist in your tradition? Do you observe them yourself? And if not, why not? Are they taboos about types of animal - or do you also have beliefs about the timing of eating - ie., only eating fish on friday, lol! Or periods in which your tradition demands that you fast?
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Post by jez on Dec 16, 2005 17:25:28 GMT -1
I fast between the new moon of my Lady and the full moon, when I celebrate Her festival. The fast I observe is no meat, no food imported from beyond Her land (ok, that's a difficult one, I tend to go for things that would have been around at the time Her worship entered this country) and no alcohol of any sort. Sometimes I fast in the same way at other times, or for longer periods of time at the same time of year. This is not a particularly 'heathen' thing as far as I know, simply something I do to honour the Lady who I was pledged to in my teens. I hav e done it ever since I took my oath to Her, and She is always very close to me at that time. I think the purpose of such ritual observance, for me at least, is to increase my mindfulness of Her. Certainly, I think of the reason for the fast every time I shop, eat, drink, go out with friends, read the labels on a product, or plan to visit a restaurant. I also do not tend to eat hare, though I will eat rabbit, no problem. I have (once) eaten hare, but afterwards, I realised I shouldn't have Since my recent encounters with Epona, I would also be chary of eating horsemeat. As a matter of principle, I buy organic meat, outdoor-reared or free-range, and take a good amount of care over the way any animal products I buy have been reared. So there are countries whose meat I would not buy. Again, this is not because I am heathen, but simply a matter of conscience. Jez
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Post by tenar on Dec 16, 2005 17:26:15 GMT -1
I don't really have any taboos, as such- though I try not to eat meat that isn't organic/free range type meat, more out of welfare concerns than anything else.
I wouldn't eat dogmeat- I was brought up with always at least one dog as a part of the family, I think it would feel a bit like eating a family member. I couldn't eat horse either-we started horseriding lessons in the summer and now I've got to know some of them, they seem a bit too much 'like us' to eat.
The only geese I saw growing up were my grandad's and I was terrified of them. I don't think I'd have a problem eating one. (I've seen it suggested that they had a lot of war symbolism, and I can definatly believe it- geese and swans were the only things our Jack Russell was afraid of)
Rabbit I wouldn't eat, for the same reason as dog-I've got one in the house and she'd never speak to me again ;D (Also Guinea pigs, for the same reason, although I think they only eat those in Peru)
I'm undecided about deer. I think I'd feel the same about deer as you feel about horse. If it was part of a ritual thing, then maybe, but not in a normal meal.
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Post by Blackbird on Dec 20, 2005 16:47:44 GMT -1
lol, I remember fun with geese when I was a child too. We had eight geese on our smallholding, and I used to go onto the field armed with a stick and a dustbin lid for a shield ;D Everything would be suspiciously quiet... and then you'd feel this nip on the back of your knee and they'd all be running off laughing. Just to keep you in your place
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Post by tenar on Dec 20, 2005 19:24:17 GMT -1
LOL...I'm such a town girl, my Grandad's garden was like a Place of Mystery I'm 21 years old, and I still point and say 'look, cows! when we're driving down the motorway
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Post by Brochfael on Dec 25, 2005 20:24:40 GMT -1
I won't eat the meat of a Badger, a Raven, a Horse or a Hare.
These are animals I hold particularly sacred.
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