Thread by @JewWhoHasItAll

#DearStaff,

#Chag #Purim sameach to everyone!

As you may have noticed, as your Christian colleagues ask for numerous days off again, we are now in the midst of yet another #Christian #holiday #season.

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As we all celebrate Purim, Christians are celebrating the Christian holiday of Christian Purim! Christian Purim is observed the last day before the beginning of the Second Christian Omer, which is also called Christian Elul.

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The #Pope #Gregory #calendar used by #Christians is manipulated to ensure that Christian Purim always takes place on Third Day (which is referred to by Christians as “Tuesday”).

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The holiday has multiple names in different Christian cultures, including “#PancakeTuesday,” “#FatTuesday,” “#ShroveTuesday,” “#MardiGras,” and “#Carnival” (yes, like a Purim carnival).

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Because of the varying cultural names, it’s best to refer to the holiday by its more common name of Christian Purim.

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Holiday customs for Christian Purim vary according to the ethnic minhag of any particular Christian family or Christian shul.

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You may notice children of Vatican origin having costume parties and eating Chanukkah-like foods at their Christian shuls in honor of the holiday; Ashkenazi Christians, however, may instead be enjoying pancake dinners at their synagogues.

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Some of the Chanukkah-like foods they eat include Pączki, a type of Christian sufganiyot that are fried in swine shmaltz instead of oil.

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Christians do not distribute mishloach manot for their Purim, even if they are wearing costumes and celebrating according to Minhag Vatikani.

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All of these customs have a common theme of eating rich and fatty foods prior to the Second Christian Omer, as a way of using up ingredients prior to a solemn period in which these foods are prohibited.

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The Second Christian Omer begins with Yom Ha’Ash, which always takes place on Fourth Day. Christians call this holiday Ash “Wednesday,” and it is observed through prayer and “fasting” after the Christian fashion, which usually just involves abstaining from meat.

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Some Christians attend a special service at their Christian shuls. Ashes from burnt lulavim from the past year’s Palm First Day are blessed by a Christian rabbi, then smeared or sprinkled on the heads of believers as a reminder of mortality.

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Christians do not dip eggs in the ash nor eat it. On that day, you may also witness Christian rabbis around public transport stations, asking passersby if they are Christian, and asking whether they have applied ashes yet today.

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The Second Christian Omer is observed by all Christians, but Yom Ha’Ash is observed primarily by Ashkenazi Christians. The Second Christian Omer, sometimes known as “Lent” by Christians, is a countdown to the Christian holiday of Christian Pesach.

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Christians count 40 days across a 46-day period (Christian Shabbat, which falls on First Days, is often excluded from the count) between Yom Ha’Ash and the Christian festival of Christian Pesach.

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The #Second #Christian #Omer is a period of penance and reflection leading up to Christian holidays commemorating the execution and the mystical rising from the dead of the Christian prophet Yeshu.

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The length and reflective nature of “Lent” naturally invite comparisons with the month of Elul and other secular periods of introspection. This similarity is the origin of the alternate name “Christian Elul.”

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Christian observance of “Lent” includes a number of mitzvot that invite comparison with mainstream holidays, but usually with some kind of twist. For example, Christians refer to the Second Christian Omer as a time of fasting.

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However, the Christian idea of “fasting” rarely ever involves abstaining from all food and water. The nature of Christian-style “fasting” depends on their minhag. It may involve eating fewer meals than usual, avoiding meat, or even limiting oneself to pareve foods.

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Some Christians adhere to this diet for the whole period of Christian Elul and some follow the diet only one one or two days a week.

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Some Christians break their “fast” on First Day, which is Christian Shabbat, similar to how restrictions of the Nine Days are paused for Shabbat. Some Christians don’t observe the fast at all.

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It is important not to shame your Christian colleagues by asking them why they bought the Shnitzel Sixth Day special in the cafeteria. Their observance is between them and their Christian rabbi, and not for us to judge.

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Some Christians make a “Lenten sacrifice.” It’s not a korban; it refers instead to giving up an enjoyable food, activity, or behavior, in order to increase their sense of spirituality.

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If your Christian co-worker is suddenly refusing alcohol, watching less television, or swearing less, their sacrifice might be the reason!

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Christians do not recite selichot or ask forgiveness from their friends and family members.

Most restrictions that secular culture associates with solemn periods are not aspects of Lent observance.

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Christians do not necessarily limit shaving/haircuts, leather shoes, new clothing, live music/dancing, or holding simchas during Lent, though some Christian shuls will not host weddings during this time.

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Happy Purim to all and a Christian Purim sameach to those who observe!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! #JoyToTheWorld
Cheers,
Maya Bar-On
#HR

#MedinatAmerica

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