The Day Before The Ninth of Av
Towards the end of the day, one should eat the the final meal. At this meal, one should not partake of two types of cooked food even if they are of the same variety - e.g., two kinds of noodles. Even if the cooked food is usually eaten raw, it has the status of a cooked food in this case.
- It is customary to eat a boiled egg or lentils at the final meal in sign of mourning. One should not partake of any other cooked foods and should eat bread, dairy products, or fruit. Some follow the custom of eating a piece of bread dipped in ashes.
It is customary to eat the final meal while seated on the floor or on a low stool. According to some, there is hidden significance in placing a mat or cloth underneath oneself and not sitting directly on the floor. One need not remove his shoes before eating the meal.
After the final meal, if the sun has not yet set, one may continue eating - provided that one did not intend or state that he had accepted the fast upon himself. lf one intended not to eat again because he was full, however, he can eat again since he had not intended to accept the fast yet. It is proper to declare or to intend specifically, that one has not accepted the fast upon himself until sunset.
Some people have a custom to eat a full meal - without meat or wine - in the early afternoon [before the final meal] so that the fast not cause them harm.
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I think I'll just go to Taco Bell and enjoy my Burrito Supreme.
Religion is too whacky in my opinion with these traditions that were conceived thousands of years ago.
Good lord, I'll be damned if Moses is going to dictate my eating schedule.
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