I meant the question to be rhetorical but I agree that it is an old dodge by the religious leaders to get the people to come out and listen to their programming, free food is still used by churches to this day to bring out the population so they can be indoctrinated.

@Surfpirate Just never drink the Kool-ade. Its psycho active.

@Fernapple Either that or laced with strychnine.

This answer from BudFrank is the correct one. The Levitical priesthood became a welfare class because they were exempt from owning land but that was a good thing for them because they had cities made for them, they benefitted from taxation, and every time someone brought a "sacrifice" it was free food for them. And I think priests always, including other cultures, ate the food that was sacrificed, often making it look like it was eaten by an idol.

Haggis isn't so bad, especially if you only have to eat a fork full once a year on Robbie Burns Night.

@Surfpirate Nope. No one can make me eat that. No reason would be sufficient.

@KKGator Have you ever tried it? Even just a little taste?

@Surfpirate Nope. The closest I've ever gotten to eating haggis is tripe.
Close enough.

Vegetarian haggis is quite nice

[scottishgourmetusa.com]

Or to make yourself:

[allrecipes.com]

Of course there are plenty of options to replace the egg too, if you prefer a vegan option

Happy haggis hunting, the wee beasties don’t have to be wounded

@girlwithsmiles Thanks for the links, but I have zero interest in haggis, of any variety.

@KKGator cool, no worries

There have been archeological finds of temple braziers with the remains of marijuana resin in the bottom of them, perhaps the religious leaders found a flavour enhancer that made the meat more palatable and the euphoria more predictable.

Why waste the good stuff on the peasants when the religious elites will be eating the good cuts in the temple after the festival is over?