Back in the days, fasting for Lent meant also going vegan. As Christianity spread through Western Europe from the fifth through 12th centuries, the observance of Lent did as well. But daily fasting came gradually to be moderated during most of Lent.
Also, bishops and theologians specialising in church law specified restrictions on the kinds of acceptable food: no meat or meat products, dairy or eggs could be consumed at all during Lent, even on Sundays. Marriage, a joyous ritual, was also prohibited during the Lenten season. Today, Catholics and some other Christians still abstain from eating meat on the Fridays of Lent, and eat only one meal, with two smaller snacks permitted, or two days of complete fasting.
Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat.
Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste. Fish are a different category of animal.
Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles , cold-blooded animals and shellfish are permitted. I've noticed that restaurants and grocery stores advertise specials on expensive types of fish and seafood on Fridays during Lent. Some of my Catholic friends take advantage of these deals, but somehow I don't feel right treating myself to the lobster special on Fridays during Lent. While fish, lobster and other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of abstinence, indulging in the lavish buffet at your favorite seafood place sort of misses the point.
Abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent is a penitential practice. On the Fridays of Lent, we remember the sacrifice of Christ on Good Friday and unite ourselves with that sacrifice through abstinence and prayer.
I understand that Catholics ages 18 to 59 should fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, but what exactly are the rules for these fasts? Fasting on these days means we can have only one full, meatless meal. For a time, Catholics were obligated to abstain from all animal products, including byproducts of animal agriculture. The fasting continued for the whole 40 days of Lent, resulting in a day known as Fat Tuesday as a result.
On the eve of Ash Wednesday, the day Lenten season started. During this time, Catholics laboured to declutter their kitchens so they could prepare a special feast the next Tuesday. To get rid of milk, eggs, and butter, they would make a lot of pancakes.
As a nod to this tradition, in England on Fat Tuesday there are Pancake races. This is an easy question to answer since a wide variety of foods are permitted. This covers goods derived from animals, too. On days when meat is prohibited, Catholics are permitted to consume eggs, fish, and other types of seafood. Amphibians, reptiles, and shellfish are all permitted, as are salt- and freshwater fish..
The church tells us, among other things, that in order to maintain the spirit of meat-free days, meals should be modest at this time. For this reason, extravagant dinners like a Seafood Feast or Crab boil should be avoided on Fridays. An easy fish dish or other meatless suppers may be served on Fridays. Soup and salad, tuna fish sandwiches, cheese pizza, or breakfast for supper eggs and toast or pancakes are common options for families on Fridays.
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