AYUNAT

ATULE

(A vegetarian broth made of corn)

During Spanish times, Catholic regulations about fasting were different from today's church laws. Fasting was a major reduction in food intake. Abstinence was a different matter, although sometimes a certain day might involve both fasting and abstinence. Abstinence meant giving up eating meat.

Here is what one priest explained to his people, in Chamorro, in 1873.


Para u fan gef ayunat i kilisyåno, gin oga'an, onsa i media na nengkanno'
(For the Christian to fast well, in the morning, an ounce and a half of food)

ni i tai iyo sustånsian gå'ga'; pot ehemplo :
(which has no animal substance; for example :)

chokolåte (1), chå, kafe, un tasitan atule, un pedasiton titiyas,
(chocolate, tea, coffee, a small cup of atule, a small piece of titiyas,)

pat kuatkiera ha' otro na nengkanno', yagin tai iyo sustånsian gå'ga'.
(or whatever other foods, if there is no animal substance.)

Gi talo'åne siña u kånno' todo i ha nesesita i estomagu-ña;
(At noon he may eat all his stomach needs;)

ya siña u gisan mantika, achok ha' guihan.
(and he can fry in fat, even if it's fish.)

Gin håye, ni i umayuyunat, tåya' guihan, siña an malago', u kånno' kåtne,
(Whoever fasts, if he lacks fish, may, if he wants, can eat meat,)

lao mungnga muna' dadanña' gigo gi un sentåda ha' kåtne yan guihan (2),
(but do not mix in the same meal meat and fish,)

sa' atotta yan må'gas na isao.
(because it is forbidden and it is a great sin.)

NOTES

(1) Chokolåte. Learned from the Spanish, chocolate was drunk. Chocolate was melted and sugar often added, as well as spices, depending on personal taste and availability.

(2) The old rule was, on fast days, meat and fish could not be eaten at the same meal when fasting. It had to be one or the other.

(3) Atotta. It means "forbidden." It is a word that people eventually stopped using.