At Lent, Catholics Reflect On Faith As Sex Abuse Scandal Shakes The Church
On the first Sunday of Lent, NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Sister Joan Chittister about the holiday's meaning amid the ongoing abuse scandal.
Lent
'Semla Man': The Pastry-Eating Superhero Sweden Needs On Fat Tuesday
The Swedes are fiercely devoted to almond paste- and whipped cream-filled semla. (One king died after gorging on them.) And the day before Lent is game time for feasting before the fast.
Ecuador's Fanesca Is A Lenten Soup Flavored With Centuries Of Tradition
This thick, creamy stew features 12 "grains" to represent the Twelve Apostles and cod to denote Jesus. It takes days and many hands to prepare, a meal befitting Ecuador's elaborate Lenten traditions.
The British Celebrate Pancake Day With Sweet Races
The last day of February is called Pancake Day in the United Kingdom, and it is marked by pancake races. Teams run pan in hand toward the finish line in a tradition going back hundreds of years.
When Beef Is Off Limits, Beaver And Muskrat Make It To Lenten Menu
Medieval theologians used to distinguish between land vs. water creatures, not mammals vs. fish. That's good enough for some restaurants — and parishes — in places with large Catholic populations.
Forget Fish Fridays: In Louisiana, Gator Is On The Lenten Menu
Move over, tuna fish, shrimp and clam chowder. Alligator is here for your Friday Lenten meals, thanks to confirmation from the archbishop of New Orleans that it is, in fact, a seafood.