Happy Easter/Ruhus Fasika

 Every country, every culture, every people on this rock that we inhabit has its own drink or beverage that they make. It's not only part of their culture and tradition, but one could make the argument that it's also an element of their identity. The Russians have vodka, the Greeks enjoy ouzo, the Irish with their whiskey, the Italians with their vino, the Germans got beer (thanks for Oktoberfest, by the way) and the Americans with..........well, I'm sure the yanks have made their own contributions in the field of adult beverages and alcohol addiction.

 We Eritreans are not picky with our liquor, though the older generation are partial to Greek Ouzo. But, traditionally, we enjoy home-made beer called Suwa and a honey-concoction called Mess, which are both fixtures at any random celebration in any random house hold in both Eritrea and Ethiopia (with whom we share a great many cultural similarities......*sigh). And if there ever is a time for it, today would be the day.

 Before I go on, I must confess, this isn't a call to arms. This isn't some recollection of an alcohol-fueled incident involving violence and extra-marital sex. This is me doing something that I rarely do.....tell you all a little bit more about myself, but more specifically, a little bit more about where I come from.

 Being predominately Orthodox christian, Eritreans are slightly different from most folks. For example, we celebrate Christmas in January, we have no pews (benches) in church and our church-services can last for hours. I mean, seriously, kudos to anyone who could stand on their feet for that long. But, of course, we also celebrate Easter and Good Friday on different days.

 Now, this usually begins with "Tsom" (the "Ts" making a sound that most non-Eritreans/Ethiopians would have a difficult time making), which is our version of lent. Here, we fast for over a month, abstaining from all meat, dairy and other meat by-products (now, by "we", I mean other, more devoted Eritreans, because I personally could never survive something like that....seriously, I'm addicted to meat). Most folks subsist on a diet of vegetables and grains, which isn't actually bad, with the exception that it's pretty much the same thing over and over and over and over and over. 

 Anyways, this continues until "Good Friday", where a mandatory fast occurs for all of us, no exceptions. Saturday night, we go to church and pray. Usually, my prayers would be for family, friends, strangers, any and all who needed it. And come Sunday, everyone would break their fast in a grand feast of various Eritrean culinary delights. And when you have spent over a month abstaining from it, the first taste of meat is simply out of this world. Seriously, at my house, the sounds we make during the meal is like listening to a XXX-rated movie (just kidding).

 Now that I've regaled you all with tales from the other end of the planet, I suppose one would ponder as to why I brought this up. Sure, I have my faith, but I am hardly the best christian on the planet. Seriously, I could write trilogies just about my screw-ups, which range from the mundane to the spectacular. 

 I guess I'm writing about this because this is something I miss. Granted, I'm neither home sick nor longing to return. I simply miss certain aspects of my life, certain simplicities, the care-free nature of how things once were. Ultimately, I suppose I simply miss that which was familiar to me. 

 But, that's another story for another time. Today is a celebration for us and I cordially invite one and all to share in the festivities with us. 

 Happy Orthodox Easter, folks. And to all my brethren, Ruhus Fasika.