Welcome to the Wacky Wednesday following Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday). If you’re unfamiliar with Fat Tuesday, it’s always the day before Ash Wednesday. More about that a little later. First, we have our old English insults for the day. Stampcrab refers to a heavy-footed, clumsy person. Have you ever met someone who always bumped into or knocked over things? That’s a stampcrab. Our next word has more of an explanation. Stymphalist refers to someone who smells unpleasant. In Greek mythology, one of The Twelve Labors of Hercules was to destroy the Stymphalian birds, a flock of monstrous, man-eating birds with metal beaks and feathers, who produced a stinking and highly toxic guano. And that’s where the name comes from.
Today’s only token food holiday is National Cabbage Day. The cabbage family of greens includes Brussels sprout, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, kohlrabi, and kale. Cabbage helps create some of the best Celtic recipes. Consider some corned beef and cabbage in March. As a part of Random Acts of Kindness Week, today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. To learn more about the week and the day, visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Finally, we have Ash Wednesday. 46 days before Easter, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lenten season for Christians. The day begins a time of meditation, reflection, self-examination, study, and contemplation when Christian consider their own mortality and sinfulness in preparation for Easter.
James Pack 