Collop Monday

Well, if you think people might ask you what a "Shrove" is, think of the blank looks you'll get when you inform them that it is "Collop Monday." What, you ask, is a collop? It is a slab of meat. A steak, if you will. The picture is of a collop of venison, sufficiently larded, and spitted. Today was the day when slabs of meat would be salted and hung up until Lent was over.

It was customary to have a collop of bacon and eggs today, as a way of using the stuff up, and as a way of easing into Lent on Wednesday, and as a way of getting the grease for the pancakes. Wow, you can just feel those ol' arteries hard'ning! If you don't need to make your confession yet, you're not trying.