Sicilian vegetarian

[johanna_hypatia]

In writings about Italian regional cooking, you often find mention of the vegetarian side of Mezzogiorno cuisine. When Sicilians talk about the lack of meat on their tables, though, that doesn't apply to the fish and seafood in their cuisine. I suppose that's due to the legacy of the Catholic Church and their allegedly "no meat" Fridays and Lent

Comments

[crafting_change]

this cookbook:http://www.amazon.com/Mediterranean-Vegan-Kitchen-Donna-Klein/dp/1557883599
has some AMAZING Italian dishes, and the beginning of the book gives a very interesting history of unintentional vegan eating practices.

[johanna_hypatia]

Ooooo thanks!

[cmcmck]

"That never made any sense to me. Are fish plants or animals? Didn't any of those Church prelates study biology even a little bit?"

Ah, they studied it a great deal! You'd never believe some of the cons used to get round 'meatless' days! Fish was just the start (they don't have legs therefore they ain't meat) they managed at various time to persuade themselves that all manner of beasties weren't actually 'meat'. Rabbit, for example :o)

[johanna_hypatia]

As your example reminds me, I keep becoming gladder and gladder I put all that meshugas behind me long ago.

[america_divine]

I've read that the fish practice originally wasn't about compassion to animals, but about embracing poverty--fish being more accessible and less extravagant. The idea was to eat common food, not to refrain from flesh. The logic was simplicity and mortification, not compassion. Fish-as-food was similarly class-codified in Egypt and at least in some eras regarded as unclean.

[johanna_hypatia]

Uh huh. But the way it was told to me, the rule was to abstain from "meat" and that fish was not "meat." The hell it ain't.

There's a joke about the Jews in Spain after the Reconquista.

They made them all convert. It was done by pouring water over them, and saying "Now you're Catholic!"

One Friday a priest was walking past the house of some newly converted Jews, and smelled meat cooking. He burst in the door, accusing them of violating the fish-on-Friday rule.

They said, "No, it's fish." The priest said it smelled like meat. They said, "Look, we'll show you." They lifted up the lid of the pot where some beef brisket was cooking. They poured water over it and said, "Now you're a fish!"

[america_divine]

Not an RC franchise, of course. Some Hindus call them water vegetables. Not sure how much is authoritarian and how much is just bourgeois religion--though now it's folkway and hoary with age. The practices themselves can look attractive to some of those who didn't have them imposed--it's the authoritarian part that's ugly. People don't abide the suppression of sex OR flesh foods... not surprised they come up with similar evasions.

[kimboburly]

I had a dream about you the other night. We were talking about tea, food and the Goddess. When we were done, I wished you a Happy Mother's Day.

Just wanted to pass that your way.

*hugs*

[johanna_hypatia]

Oh, bless you, dear heart. That's just awesome. Thank you so much! :)

[mysanal]

Ooh, that was fascinating! I assume much the same was true of my Neapolitan ancestors.

Even when I was a Little Catholic Kid, I couldn't get my head around "fish isn't meat". However, since I hated fish, my lent food was mac & cheese anyway. ;-D

[johanna_hypatia]

They say give the Devil his due, I guess that goes for the Pope as well ;) ... laying off the beef and pork for one day a week and over a month each year was bound to promote better health in the population.