This week's speaker will be addressing a vital topic – he is Ray Bradley, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Director of the Climate System Research Center, talking about climate change. His entry in the UMass faculty list says,
"My interests are in climate variability across a wide range of time scales. I’m particularly interested in how present day climate differs from climates in the past, and what may have caused climates to change."
I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say with a kind of dread in as much as the news is obviously bad, but also with hope that we still have time to turn the tables and learn to live in a way that will be much gentler on our planet.
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It has been so gratifying to see what terrific attendance we have been having at lunch despite the long months of wintry weather. Take heart – spring really will soon be here – at least most of the ice has melted, even on my north facing pathway. And Phyllis has more terrific speakers lined up for our enjoyment and edification.
Looking ahead to spring, this Tuesday will be Mardi Gras/Fasching Dienstag/
Pancake Tuesday/Carnival/Shrove Tuesday……..call it what you will, in the Christian church it was traditionally regarded as a day to let your hair down and enjoy yourself before the following day, Ash Wednesday, began the sombre period of Lent leading up to Easter.
Pancake Tuesday/Carnival/Shrove Tuesday……..call it what you will, in the Christian church it was traditionally regarded as a day to let your hair down and enjoy yourself before the following day, Ash Wednesday, began the sombre period of Lent leading up to Easter.
When I lived in the UK we called it Pancake, or Shrove Tuesday. 'Shrove' indicating the Roman Catholic tradition of having confessed or shriven one's sins. In my house we spoke more prosaically of 'Pancake' Tuesday because we had pancakes for our evening meal. The traditional reason, dating from at least the fifteenth century, was to eat up all the eggs and fat before embarking on the Lenten fast. I remember how I used to hurry home from school to find my grandmother busily whisking eggs to make the batter. The thick and wholesome pancake that we eat over here is quite different from the large, wafer thin 'crepe' that the Brits eat.
The art of tossing the pancake in the pan in order to cook the second side is a skill that takes many attempts to master, and I can still feel the frisson of nervous anticipation while I was waiting for Nanny to allow me to have a go. Once the pile of pancakes keeping warm in the oven was deemed sufficiently tall to satisfy us all, my grandfather and mother would join us at the table and we would sprinkle the crepes with lemon juice and sugar, then roll them up to eat. Even since coming to live here in the US of A, I have continued to uphold the tradition – so Roger will be sure to come promptly to the table on Tuesday evening as he knows the treat that will be awaiting him.
The art of tossing the pancake in the pan in order to cook the second side is a skill that takes many attempts to master, and I can still feel the frisson of nervous anticipation while I was waiting for Nanny to allow me to have a go. Once the pile of pancakes keeping warm in the oven was deemed sufficiently tall to satisfy us all, my grandfather and mother would join us at the table and we would sprinkle the crepes with lemon juice and sugar, then roll them up to eat. Even since coming to live here in the US of A, I have continued to uphold the tradition – so Roger will be sure to come promptly to the table on Tuesday evening as he knows the treat that will be awaiting him.
In 1978 I lived for one year in Germany, in a tiny village at the foothills of the Schwabian Alps.
I had not heard of the German 'Fasching Dienstag' or 'Carnival Tuesday' but when my young son came home from school one day to announce that he needed to wear fancy dress on the next Monday we set to and turned him into a pirate, complete with parrot on his shoulder, thanks to a stuffed sock and some brightly colored felt wings and feathers.
The following Tuesday was a school holiday so I took both boys to the nearby town of Ulm, where we decided that we would begin by visiting the fourteenth century cathedral.
Naturally, we rose to the challenge and clambered up 768 steps to the top of the steeple, the highest church steeple in the world – yes, friends, we were young and fit in those days. Imagine our surprise and delight when, just as we re-emerged from the tower, a parade was passing by. It was much later that I learnt that this was a traditional way of celebrating Fasching, with fancy dress, merriment and music. At that moment, it was as though it had taken shape especially to entertain us and we watched mesmerized as group after group of brightly clad revelers passed by against the backdrop of beautifully preserved medieval buildings. Such memories are so precious!
This year, I plan to watch the New Orleans celebrations on TV. Now there's a culture that knows how to party!
I can't promise pancakes for lunch on Tuesday, but I can promise good company, good friendship and good conversation. I look forward to seeing you then.
Best
Vivienne
