While many are familiar with the fasting regulations during the penitential season of Lent, few know that historically Advent was also a time to fast before the great feast of Christmas.
The fasting traditions surrounding the time before Christmas have gone through many changes over the centuries, but Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians continue to follow a set of rules that have been passed down to them.
Nativity fast
Beginning in the 8th century, Eastern Christians doubled-down on their preparations for Christmas. They firmly believed in the ancient maxim, "fast before you feast," and followed Christ's example of fasting for 40 days in the desert before he began his public ministry.
To properly prepare for the glorious celebration of Christmas on December 25, they fasted for 40 days, beginning November 15 and ending on Christmas Eve. Unlike the current observation of Lent in the West (in which Sundays are exempted from fasting) the Eastern fast includes Sundays. It is also called "Philip's fast" as it begins after the feast of St. Philip the Apostle in the Byzantine calendar.
Generally speaking they avoid meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil during this time period, though the rules of fasting tend to differ according to each particular church.
St. Martin's Lent
Interestingly, Roman Catholics had a similar fast that started around the feast of St. Martin, November 11. This was called, "St. Martin’s Lent," as it was viewed in a similar way as Lent.
However, it wasn't a daily fast, but was only observed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It was a rigorous fast, similar to that of Good Friday and Ash Wednesday.
Also, in the same way that Catholics were once asked to abstain from meat during the entirety of Lent, the same rule applied during the time before Christmas.
This fast in the Roman Catholic Church gradually disappeared and by the 20th century, the only type of fasting that remained was abstaining from meat on Fridays.
Roman Catholics have no obligation to fast or abstain from meat during Advent or from the time of St. Martin's Day, but some Catholics have tried to revive this tradition in hopes of preparing both their bodies and souls for the celebration of Christ's birth.
