Ash Wednesday And Lent Fasting Rules

Ash Wednesday Fasting Rules (Photo: Funmunch.com)

Ash Wednesday, which marks 46 days before Easter and the beginning of Lent, is being observed by Catholics from all over the world today, February 22, 2012.

If one is observing the holy day, there are fasting rules that he needs to follow.

Firstly, one must refrain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste.

The Catholic law of abstinence states that Catholics (14 years old and above) must refrain from meat on Fridays altogether during this 40-day period, as well as Ash Wednesday.

Additionally, Catholics (18 to 59 years old) should fast on both Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This is defined by the Roman Catholic church as consuming only one full meal, or two smaller meals.

"Canon 1251: Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ," the Code of Canon Law reads.

As a reminder of our mortality (often stated as, "we are dust and to dust we shall return"), many Catholics also get ashes on their forehead on Ash Wednesday.