The Season of Lent

2013-03-13


I have been hearing about fish a lot recently. For example, I noticed many advertisements here for new fish products such as fish sandwiches at fast food restaurants. McDonald’s has sold a fish sandwich for many years.


This spring they have a new product – fish nuggets. I thought it was strange to see many new fish products because I have also heard news about fish for sale. The news reports say that often fish is not labeled correctly in stores and restaurants. (For example, the menu or the package might say that it is “flounder,” when it is actually “tilapia.”)


The news also says that humans are “over-fishing” and it is harder and harder to find popular fish like yellow-fin tuna. So I wondered why these restaurants are suddenly adding fish to their menus.


Then I realized the reason. This is the season of Lent (the 40 days before Easter). During this time, many Catholic people do not eat beef or pork or poultry. The only animal they eat is fish. I think the fast food restaurants hope these people will continue to eat at their restaurants during Lent. This is why I see so many advertisements for fish.


In the U.S., many people celebrate Easter – even if they do not attend church often. However, only the Catholics and the strictest Protestants observe Lent. (Catholics and Protestants are the two types of Christians.) During this 40 says, they give up one thing that usually enjoy. As I said, Catholic people often give up meat. Sometimes people give up soft drinks. Then they donate the money they usually spend on soft drinks to a charity.


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