Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday that marks the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. However, some people argue that the practices associated with Ash Wednesday have pagan origins. While there may be some similarities between certain pagan rituals and the traditions of Ash Wednesday, it is important to note that the intent and meaning behind the holiday are distinctly Christian. One of the main arguments suggesting a pagan influence on Ash Wednesday is the use of ashes as a symbol of repentance and mortality. In some ancient pagan cultures, ashes were used in rituals to appease or seek favor from various deities. However, in the Christian tradition, the use of ashes on Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance and renewal.
Of course, there’s always better living through chemistry…and turning to what those of us without self-cleaning ovens do to clean up our baking grime. Plenty of chemical solutions eat away rust, and one of them (lye) happens to be the active ingredient in Easy Off oven cleaner (alternately, you can just use plain lye). All you really need to do is brush the big flakes of rust away, spray the piece down, then put it in a plastic bag, squeeze the air out, and let it sit for a long time: 2 days. The process may have to be repeated for up to a week. Residual rust should be easily scoured away. If not, try soaking the piece in a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water for 24 hours, and scrub off what rust remains. Of course, you may have to return to step one if the piece is really rusty. You should also be very sparing with soaking the piece in vinegar, as–unlike the lye–it reacts with the iron as well as with the rust.
Of course, there s always better living through chemistry and turning to what those of us without self-cleaning ovens do to clean up our baking grime. Using only electrical current and a mildly basic conducting solution, rust and crud literally lifts right of the pan without causing any damage to the iron itself.
However, in the Christian tradition, the use of ashes on Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance and renewal. The practice of using ashes dates back to the Old Testament, where people would wear sackcloth and sprinkle ashes on their heads as a sign of mourning and repentance. Another aspect of Ash Wednesday that is sometimes linked to pagan customs is the act of fasting.
Cast Iron Cauldron Care: Rust Removal
Bad, bad witch! Don’t let your cauldron get this cruddy!
There may indeed come a day where you will want to rehabilitate a seriously rusted cast iron cauldron. Perhaps you will happen across a fantastic piece at a flea market or thrift store and it’s only a few dollars. Perhaps you will leave Grandma’s treasure out in the morning dew after a festival bonfire. Esoteric kitchen witchery though this may be, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that having a working knowledge of rust removal will save your bacon someday.
Simply put, there are four basic techniques that could be employed in stripping your cauldron of its rusty shell: mechanical removal, incineration, chemical removal, and electrolysis. Of course, all have their benefits and detractions.
The one most people would think of first is, of course, mechanical removal. This would be the act of scouring the rust away from the intact metal with aid from some frictive substance like sandpaper, steel wool, or perhaps a steel brush attached to a drill. If the rusting is very light, this is probably the best way to go: you’ll only lose a little time and elbow grease. The only real thing to keep in mind is to not scour any one spot too much–especially if using a drill attachment. Too much rubbing in one spot can mean you’ll actually wear away spots of iron and create small depressions in your piece, and that can affect how the pot cooks. (Of course, if the cauldron won’t be used for cooking, this is not a major concern.) When the rust issues are heavier, though, it’s a lot more important to save the elbow and find a better solution.
One technique that’s been around just about as long as we’ve had fire is incineration. In days gone by, people used to put rusted iron pieces in the heart of a great bonfire that would burn for hours. The fire would not only strip the iron of any seasoning or baked-on crud, but could actually turn rust to ash, too. If tending a bonfire isn’t to your speed and you have a self-cleaning oven, you could just clean the oven with the cast iron piece inside. Any residual rust sould be able to be removed with a light scour.
Be really careful when putting cast iron through the self-clean cycle of an oven!
Some people who rehabilitate cast iron as a job or a hobby really prefer this oven method since it is so easy. However, there are some notable detriments, not the least of which is the incredible energy cost. More immediate, though, is the risk of damage to the oven or to the cast iron piece (it is rare, but occasionally a piece will crack with this method). Oven damage can most easily occur if you leave the metal racks inside your oven while running the self clean cycle. The racks themselves will, of course, warp and discolor, and they may become permanently stuck in the oven. You can also do damage to the oven and the cast iron if you put the cast iron piece directly onto the oven floor in the self-clean cycle. A common home hack is shown above where the cast iron is balanced on something ceramic (in this case a brick). If something does go wrong, though, you may void any warranty on your oven, and possibly create a fire hazard. In short, this method can be easy and can work, but if something does go wrong, the stakes are really high.
Easy-Off to the rescue! After spraying, put the piece in a plastic bag, squeeze out the air, and just let it sit for hours.
Of course, there’s always better living through chemistry…and turning to what those of us without self-cleaning ovens do to clean up our baking grime. Plenty of chemical solutions eat away rust, and one of them (lye) happens to be the active ingredient in Easy Off oven cleaner (alternately, you can just use plain lye). All you really need to do is brush the big flakes of rust away, spray the piece down, then put it in a plastic bag, squeeze the air out, and let it sit for a long time: 2 days. The process may have to be repeated for up to a week. Residual rust should be easily scoured away. If not, try soaking the piece in a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water for 24 hours, and scrub off what rust remains. Of course, you may have to return to step one if the piece is really rusty. You should also be very sparing with soaking the piece in vinegar, as–unlike the lye–it reacts with the iron as well as with the rust.
The negatives with using chemical solutions are obvious. Not only are you using caustic lye, which could cause injury if accidents occur, you’re going to be eating up a lot of time. Unfortunately, the lye solution weakens as it works, and eventually doesn’t do much to affect the rust. That results in constantly re-applying the solution and a lot of babying the piece during the process.
Using electrolysis to dissolve rust and grime from a pan.
The gentlest of all the methods is electrolysis. Using only electrical current and a mildly basic conducting solution, rust and crud literally lifts right of the pan without causing any damage to the iron itself. Unfortunately, it requires a little bit of equipment and a little bit of care in assembling the rig. You need is your cast iron piece (hereafter referred to as the ‘cathode’), a cheap piece of steel (hereafter referred to as the ‘anode’), a non-conductive container big enough to fit both your cast iron piece, another non-conductive piece to keep the cathode and anode physically separated, a box of either washing soda or baking soda (washing if you can), and a 2 amp or larger automotive battery charger with an ammeter (see if you can borrow one…it’s about $30 to purchase it). Additionally, you may want an extra set of jumper cables if you’re concerned the electrolysis will damage the battery charger cables (it likely will not if you’re only doing this once or twice).
All you do is fill up the tub with water and add about 1 tablespoon of soda for each gallon of water, then submerge the cathode and anode. Make sure that the two pieces cannot touch each other (which would complete the circuit and potentially cause a surge), attach the negative cable to the cast iron cathode and the positive to the steel anode, and turn on the electricity. Hold the current steady, and walk away. In 5 hours to 2 days (depending on how rusted the piece is and how deep of a pot it is) the piece will essentially be free of all rust and gunk after a good regular washing. (Still confused? Check out this YouTube video.)
Of course, you wouldn’t want to touch anything in this set up while the current flows lest you be electrocuted, nor would you want to perform this in a very enclosed space as one byproduct of the electrolysis is hydrogen gas, which is flammable (think Hindenburg!). However, nothing toxic will be produced from the electrolysis, and the soda solution can be poured onto the earth or down the drain afterwards (even if it looks horrendously disgusting). Electrolysis also doesn’t use a terribly large amount of electricity, when all is said and done. It is well worth the time it takes to set up the rig.
A cast iron pan treated with electrolysis. Half was submerged in the solution and half was left to air. Clearly the electrolysis works, and takes off more crud than just rust!
Happy cauldron cleaning!
BHG / Alli Waataja
Fasting has been a common practice in various religious and spiritual traditions, including pagan rituals. However, the purpose of fasting during Lent is to imitate Jesus' forty days of fasting in the wilderness and to focus on spiritual growth and self-discipline. It is a time of sacrifice and self-reflection for Christians rather than a pagan act meant to appease gods or spirits. Furthermore, the placement of Ash Wednesday in the Christian liturgical calendar undermines the argument of pagan influence. Ash Wednesday falls forty days before Easter Sunday, mirroring the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness. This connection to the life and teachings of Jesus solidifies its Christian significance and separates it from any pagan roots. In conclusion, while there may be some similarities between certain pagan rituals and the traditions of Ash Wednesday, it is incorrect to label the holiday as pagan-influenced. The use of ashes and the act of fasting during Lent have unique meanings and intentions within the Christian faith. It is important to understand the historical and cultural context of religious practices before making assumptions about their origins..
Reviews for "Ash Wednesday: A Christianized Pagan Holiday?"
- John - 1 star - This article completely misses the mark. Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday that marks the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection and repentance. It has nothing to do with paganism. The author's argument is based on mere speculation and lacks any concrete evidence. I expected a well-researched and unbiased article, but instead, I was disappointed by the lack of credibility.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was looking for an in-depth analysis of the origins of Ash Wednesday, but this article fell short. The author spends too much time speculating about pagan influences without providing any substantial evidence. It seemed more like a personal opinion piece rather than a well-researched article. I would recommend looking for other sources if you're interested in learning about the history of Ash Wednesday.
- Mark - 1 star - This article is deceptive and misleading. As a Christian who observes Ash Wednesday, I find it offensive to suggest that it has any pagan influences. The author's arguments lack logical reasoning and rely heavily on unfounded assumptions. It's disappointing to see an article that spreads misinformation about a religious holiday. I would not recommend this article to anyone seeking accurate information on Ash Wednesday.