Most of the country is Ethiopian
Orthodox, and religion plays a big part of the culture here. More
than I've seen any place else. Thus, fasting influences everything.
On a weekly basis, Orthodox followers
fast on both Wednesday and Friday – no meat or dairy. It's in
respect for Holy Wednesday and Holy Friday, but it's practiced year
round and not just before Easter. It's not uncommon, at least in
small towns like most PCVs are in, for restaurants to not even offer
meat on these days. And it's just as likely to only be able to get
vegetarian days on these days. If I want shiro (a chickpea powder
dish) on a Thursday, 3 out of 4 times the restaurant will tell me
they don't have it.
It does mean however during the big
fasts, before Christmas and Easter, the price of eggs drop and I'm
more likely to get milk from the local cow owner because demand is
down. I have so much alfredo sauce during those times.
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