LENT Postul Mare MADE BY BOGDAN, 5 TH GRADE

Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianyty, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha(Easter). Holy and Great Lent, which is also called the lent of Patruzecimi(40 days), Păresimile(Sufferings Days), Lent is appointed for cleansing the soul through frugal dishes, without meat, cheese, eggs, milk,fish, oil, wine, through prayer, charity, confession and the Holy Mysteries.

 Eat dishes with oil and drink wine: Saturday and Sunday, on February 24 finding of Cape St. John the Baptist, the Holy 40 Martyrs on March 9, the Annunciation.  Eat fish: in the Annunciation Day- March 25 and on the Palm Sunday

 It begin in a Monday, six weeks before Easter, after the Sunday of Forgiveness till evening Saturday of Lazar, before Palm Sunday. But the Lent continuing next week, Holy Week or Great Week or Sufferings Week, till Easter.  This year, Lent began in 15 February

LENT DISHES  ZACUSCA The main ingredients are roasted eggplant or cooked beans, roasted red peppers (belonging to a local cultivar called gogoşari) and chopped onion. Some add tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, or celery. Other ingredients are also added according to taste, including spices. Every cook seems to have his/her own recipe. Traditionally, a family will cook a large quantity of it after the fall harvest and preserve it in sterilized jars.  It can be eaten as a relish or spread, typically on bread. It is said to improve in taste after some months of maturing but must be used within days of opening. Although traditionally prepared at home, it is also commercially available.