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May I ask a question . Easter time we are not suppose to eat olive oil when fasting but can eat olives . So I asked the question why, to so so many and everyone does not know why . So I read and searched for the answer. This is what I read you can eat olive oil. The reason in the past you could not eat olive oil was because it was stored in pouches made from animals skin hence the reason why . Many years passed and people only knew they must not eat olive oil but forgot the reason why being the animal skin. Now in modern times we do not store olive oil in a animal leather pouch so we there for can eat olive oil as we can olives.
Answer to Question 443 That's the first time I've heard that it was because olive oil was stored in animal skins. I don't think this is true because going back to ancient times we know that olive oil was stored in large earthenware pots like the pitharka our grandparents had. On weekdays of Lent we keep to a Strict fast which signifies that we may eat only boiled vegetables, pulses, rice and also such things as fruit, nuts, bread and honey. On these days olive oil and wine are not permitted.
When the rules for fasting were established only olive oil was available for cooking. Many people are baffled why olives may be eaten but not the oil pressed from the olives. It is not an animal product like all the other foods prohibited so why is it forbidden during the weekdays of Lent? The answer is simply because fasting should consist of very basic and simple meals with the aim of weakening the body which in turn will weaken the passions that rule the body. Olive oil is rich in sustenance and strengthens the body and at the same time can be used in cooking to make better and tastier meals. Most people will prefer fried chips to a boiled potato. The rule says olive oil but now we have a variety of vegetable oils and margarines which some people insist should also not be used on the strict days. Granted you can have fried chips with vegetable oil but it is not as rich as olive oil and neither does it have the same health qualities. Those against the use of vegetable oil are usually monks or people influenced from the monastic way of life, but in general, ordinary people in the world will consume vegetable oil and margarine on the strict days. I class them as substitute foods similar to the fake cheese and tofu turkey.
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