[Sca-cooks] Ember Day

[Philip & Susan Troy]

Also sprach Sandra Kisner:
>  >>"Ember day: A day reserved for prayer and fasting by some Christian
>>>churches, observed on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first
>>>Sunday of Lent, after Whitsunday, after September 14, and after December
>>>13." -- American Heritage Dictionary
>>
>>I wonder why they're called Ember days, and if it has anything to do
>>with keeping fires lit but banked, in which case certain types of
>>foods might be indicated as a good idea. Could this be evidence of a
>>religious restriction helping to define a cooking style, as with Cholent?
>>
>>Adamantius
>
>      Actually (according to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate
>Dictionary), it's ME from OE ymbrendaeg, from ymbrene circuit,
>anniversary + daeg day.  (I added the   What anniversary they mean,
>I don't know.  I would assume it would have to do with the
>liturgical year, meaning these were the annual observances of
>something. Lent and Whitsun I can see.  What is September 14?  A
>particular saint's day?  December 13 is too late to be the beginning
>of Advent.

No, but it's not _too_ far from the winter solstice. Neither are the
others too far from visible season changes which define the farmer's
year, as opposed to the mathematician's year. It could be one of
those pagan holdovers/adoptees in honor of the change of the seasons.
Of course, virtually every religion has a period of reflection and
penitence following a major holiday...

Adamantius