I've heard that the reason for the taboo against has to do with the old Celtic cult of Epona, the horse goddess. The horse was so long held as a taboo animal in the British Isles that even when the cult disappeared, the taboo remained.
I don't know if this is true or just urban legend, but it's a nice thought. In fact, when I was in Japan two years ago, I saw a menu with "horse sashimi", and my friend totally wanted to try it. But it was sold out. Apparently the local Kyoto-ites like horsemeat, even if most of us feel queasy about it without knowing why.
(And I'm guessing the donkey gets a free pass on account of it being a relative of the horse :-)
And gammon's another name for ham. *checks* The Chambers Dictionary ("the first choice of many") says that gammon is "the cured meat from the hindquarters and leg of a pig; the back part of a side of bacon." From ONFr gambon, gambe pig. Huh... as in jambe. Cool.
Hmm... I guess that makes a sort of sense. Certainly a lot more than anyone else has managed to make. Do you think Epona then is where the word "pony" comes from?
My dad is utterly incapable of seeing Michael Gambon, or even hearing his voice, without solemnly saying "Ah, Michael Gambon. That well-known ham actor." Meat is complicated.
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I've heard that the reason for the taboo against has to do with the old Celtic cult of Epona, the horse goddess. The horse was so long held as a taboo animal in the British Isles that even when the cult disappeared, the taboo remained.
I don't know if this is true or just urban legend, but it's a nice thought. In fact, when I was in Japan two years ago, I saw a menu with "horse sashimi", and my friend totally wanted to try it. But it was sold out. Apparently the local Kyoto-ites like horsemeat, even if most of us feel queasy about it without knowing why.
(And I'm guessing the donkey gets a free pass on account of it being a relative of the horse :-)
And gammon's another name for ham. *checks* The Chambers Dictionary ("the first choice of many") says that gammon is "the cured meat from the hindquarters and leg of a pig; the back part of a side of bacon." From ONFr gambon, gambe pig. Huh... as in jambe. Cool.
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My dad is utterly incapable of seeing Michael Gambon, or even hearing his voice, without solemnly saying "Ah, Michael Gambon. That well-known ham actor." Meat is complicated.
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