Today is the official start of lent.
The ashes are blessed today. These are usually the ashes of the burnt palms used last year on Palm Sunday. This is mixed into a paste with blessed holy water.
The day would have started with mass. Your forehead would be marked with this ash mixture with an ash cross by the priest it is at this point your fasting and repentance started.
This is a reminder of Christ's celebrated Arrival where the palms were laid at his feet, the events that followed ultimately lead to him dying for our sins on the cross. Also a reminder that it is from ashes we come and shall return.
This was a time of reflection and penitence for the population. Women busied themselves more about the home and you were expected to retain a respectful sombreness. The alters and lecterns and Holy images were covered in the church. And absolutely no fun, sexual relations were held off too.
We would fast for forty days to commemorate the forty days Christ spent in the desert fasting and preparing for his role.
In reality it is unlikely that you would have a lot of these food stuffs left now any way and the geese may not yet be laying.
This is a good time to start stockpiling what dairy products become available.
Your diet during this time may consist mostly of dried peas, bread, ale, salt fish, grains, dried food and the early greens. It can all be made more interesting by the addition of seasonal and dried herbs. A nice one at this time of year is Winter Savoury.
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