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For the car, see Morris Ital.
| Main doctrines | |
| Jah · Afrocentrism · Ital · Zion · Spiritual use of cannabis | |
| Central figures | |
|
Jesus Christ · Haile Selassie |
|
| Key scriptures | |
| Bible · Kebra Nagast The Promise Key · Holy Piby My Life and Ethiopia's Progress |
|
| Branches and festivals | |
| Mansions · United States Shashamane · Grounation Day |
|
| Notable individuals | |
| Bob Marley · Walter Rodney | |
| See also: | |
| Vocabulary · Persecution · Dreadlocks · Reggae Ethiopian Christianity Index of Rastafari articles |
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Ital or I-tal is food approved of in the Rastafari movement. The word derives from the English word vital, with the initial syllable replaced by i.1 This is done to many words in the Rastafari vocabulary to signify the unity of the speaker with all of nature.
Early adherents adopted their dietary laws based on their interpretation of several books of the Bible, like the Genesis ("Then God said, "I give you every Seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."2, the Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Though there are different interpretations of ital regarding specific foods, the general principle is that food should be natural, or pure, and from the earth; Rastas therefore avoid food which is chemically modified or contains artificial additives (e.g., color, flavourings, and preservatives). Some also avoid added salt in foods. In strict interpretations, foods that have been produced using chemicals such as pesticides and fertiliser are not considered ital.
In common with religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Ethiopian Christianity, Rasta prohibits the eating of pork. Some Rastas also avoid eating shellfish because, in common with pigs, they are considered to be scavengers. Most Rastas avoid the consumption of all red meat, many do not eat fish or those fish over 12 inches in length, and some are strict vegetarians.3
Stricter interpretations also avoid food that has been preserved by canning or drying and even prohibit the use of metal cooking utensils, something that Ayurvedic diet followers also avoid. In this case, only clay and wood cooking pots, crockery, and cutlery are used. Few adherents of ital follow the strictest interpretation; some Rastas do not adhere to them at all.
Rastafarians do not allow alcohol, cigarettes, or coffee. To them, these are drugs that cloud the mind. Rastas, however, do allow cannabis because they believe it causes a strong prayerful state. Some Rastas do not believe in medicine, but many urbanized Rastas allow such practice.
See also
References
- ^ Ital Cooking - EatJamaican.com
- ^ Genesis 1:29
- ^ Wood, A., Logan, J. and Rose, J., Movement and Change: Movement and Change, Nelson Thornes, 1997. ISBN 0174370679, 9780174370673
External links
- Ital is Vital
- Ital Food
- Recipes for Ital Drinks, Soups, Porridge, Main Course Dishes and Breads & Cakes
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 12 November 2008, at 20:09.
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