The season of lent is a 40 day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during the Holy Week, ie Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and concluding on Holy Saturday. It is observed as the time Jesus spent fasting, praying and resisting Satan’s temptations for 40 days in the desert. The season of lent is the time for introspection and soul searching, and for reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. It is marked by penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We were taught early in our childhood that Lent is a preparation for Jesus Christ’s glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday and were encouraged to observe it with fervour and devotion. On Easter Sunday we Catholics, rededicate themselves to God and renew our Baptismal Vows.
When we were children in KGF, my parents observed a rigid schedule of fasting on certain days during Lent, and abstaining from meat, alcohol and sweets. They also focused on charitable deeds, such as giving alms, food, clothes, etc to the poor. Every Friday, during the season of lent, all of us went for the for the ‘Stations of the Cross’ and attended mass every Friday. My mum was very particular that we went for Confession before the Holy Week began, so as to fulfill our spiritual Easter duties. We attended all the Holy week services without fail and fasted and abstained from eating meat on Good Friday.
The bakeries in KGF, would make special Hot Cross Buns filled with plums for Good Friday and our Baker would deliver them along with the bread. We’d have to place an order as to the number of buns each family required about 10 days in advance. Since Good Friday was the day of fasting and abstinence we normally ate these Hot Cross buns for breakfast and dinner with a little butter. Lunch was just a cup of porridge prepared with rice and lentils called “Good Friday Gruel or Kanji”.
Then on Holy Saturday it was time to buy our Easter Eggs from the Bakery and get our new dresses from the Tailor. Easter Sunday is the day of Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
However, some times we just went for the Morning Mass on Easter Sunday morning dressed in our new outfits. It was a joyous occasion and we would wish all our friends and the other parishioners a happy Easter.
After as got home from Mass, we’d break our Easter Eggs. It was fun breaking the Easter Eggs to see what was inside. The Easter Eggs normally contained boiled sweets and toffees and the outer shell was either made of marzipan or chocolate. My mum normally made a special lunch of Chicken or Pork Vindaloo, Duck Roast, Meat Biryani etc for us which we thoroughly enjoyed. In the evening we went over to our grandparents house and spent time there with them and our other relatives. We’d play a lot of games which included an Easter Egg Hunt as well!!!
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