Joshua Bennett
For centuries, traditional Catholics observed Christmas Eve as a day of fasting and abstinence. In the Byzantine Catholic tradition, December 24 is a day of strict fasting if it falls on a weekday. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated in the morning, and the fast is broken with a meatless supper in the evening. In 1959, Pope John XXIII allowed Catholics to transfer the Christmas Eve fast to December 23, and in 1966, fasting requirements were relaxed further by Pope Paul VI, who recommended that fasting be appropriate to the local economic situation and that all Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. Today, fasting and abstinence are regulated by Canons 1250–1253 of the 1983 code, and while some Catholics continue to observe Christmas Eve as a day of fasting, it is no longer required.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fasting requirements | Fasting requirements have been greatly relaxed compared to the beginning of the 20th century. Pope Paul VI's 1966 Apostolic Constitution, Paenitemini, recommended that fasting be appropriate to the local economic situation and that all Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. |
| History of Christmas Eve fasting | For most of Christian history, Christmas Eve was a day of fasting and abstinence, like the vigils of every major feast. Traditional Catholics continue to fast on Christmas Eve. |
| Byzantine Catholic tradition | The Byzantine Catholic tradition has kept the Vigil of Christmas as a fast day for centuries. |
| Eastern Catholic tradition | The Nativity Fast, or Philip's Fast, is a fasting cycle that begins on November 15 and ends on Christmas Eve. |
| Meat abstinence | Meat abstinence is required on Christmas Eve, with some families having a meatless dinner before attending midnight Mass. |
| Fasting guidelines | On fasting days, Catholics may eat one full meal and two smaller meals, or "collations", which may not exceed 8 ounces. |
| Eucharistic Fast | The Eucharistic Fast involves taking nothing but water or medicine one hour before receiving the Eucharist. |
| Age requirements | According to Canon Law, fasting is required for those between the ages of majority and the beginning of the sixtieth year. Abstinence is required starting at age 14. |
| Sunday and solemnity exceptions | Sundays and solemnities, including Christmas, are not days of fasting or abstinence. If Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday or Saturday, the fast is observed on the preceding Friday or Saturday, respectively. |
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What You'll Learn
The Byzantine Catholic Tradition
The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburg describes the fasting requirements for Christmas Eve, stating that if it falls on a weekday, it is a day of strict fasting, with the Royal Hours celebrated during the day, followed by Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil in the evening. If December 24 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Divine Liturgy may be held in the morning, and the congregation sings the troparion of the Vigil. The fast concludes after Vespers, with a meatless Holy Supper.
The practice of almsgiving, or providing for the poor, holds equal importance in the Byzantine Catholic tradition. The Ruthenian Metropolia permits adherents to voluntarily observe Philip's Fast in its entirety or partially.
In summary, the Byzantine Catholic Tradition upholds the Vigil of Christmas as a day of fasting and spiritual preparation, culminating in the joyous celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
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Christmas Eve customs
Christmas Eve, the vigil of Christmas, has traditionally been a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. This practice was designed to heighten the joy of the feast to come, with a focus on spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. While fasting requirements have been relaxed in recent times, some Traditional Catholics continue to observe this day as a period of fasting and abstinence.
The Byzantine Catholic Tradition, including the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, has maintained the Vigil of Christmas as a fast day for centuries. If Christmas Eve falls on a weekday, it is a day of strict fasting, with the Royal Hours celebrated during the day and Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil in the evening. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated in the morning, and the community sings the troparion of the Vigil. Even if the fast is observed on Christmas Eve, a meatless meal may be consumed after Vespers to break the fast and celebrate the feast of the Nativity.
In the past, the law of fasting required Catholics to abstain from meat before noon on Christmas Eve. This custom is still observed by some families, especially those of Eastern European and Italian descent. In Italy, for instance, it is customary for families to have a dinner of seven fishes, honouring the seven Sacraments and seven days of Creation. The number of fish dishes may vary depending on family size, with larger families consuming twelve kinds of fish in honour of the twelve apostles, and smaller families opting for three or five kinds of fish.
In addition to the Byzantine Fast, Eastern Catholic churches observe another lesser-known fasting cycle called the Nativity Fast or Philip's Fast. This fast begins on November 15, the day after the feast of St. Philip, and ends on Christmas Eve. It is a 40-day period of spiritual preparation, emphasising reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
While Christmas Eve is not considered a solemnity, the rules regarding Friday abstinence may still apply. If the national bishops' conference mandates abstinence from meat on Fridays, then Christmas Eve is typically included. However, if the bishops' conference allows for an alternative form of penance, meat can be consumed alongside another act of penance.
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The Vigil of the Nativity fast
The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburg describes the Vigil of the Nativity Fast as follows:
> "Finally, we have arrived at the very eve of the Nativity - the Paramony or Vigil of Christmas (December 24). If it is a weekday, it is a day of strict fasting, with the Royal Hours celebrated during the day, and Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil in the evening. If December 24 is a Saturday or Sunday, the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated in the morning, and we sing the troparion of the Vigil...The fast is not quite over; if there is a meal or Holy Supper in the evening of December 24, after Vespers, it is a meatless one. But we have arrived at the feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ."
In the early 20th century, fasting requirements in Catholic countries were more stringent than they are today. By the eve of Vatican II, fasting had been significantly relaxed, with fasting often reduced to just four days a year: Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, the vigil of Christmas or the day before, and the vigil of the Immaculate Conception or Assumption.
The current practice of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church is regulated by Canons 1250–1253 of the 1983 code. According to tradition, on mandatory fasting days, Catholics may eat only one full meal during the day and two smaller meals, known as "collations".
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The law of fasting
The definition of "fasting" is not specified in the current Canon Law, so the traditional definition is applied. On mandatory fasting days, Catholics are allowed to eat only one full meal during the day, along with two smaller meals known as "collations". These collations typically amount to 8 ounces. The Church's requirements on fasting relate only to solid food, not drinks, so Catholics are free to consume water and other beverages, including alcohol, without restriction.
In addition to the above fasts, Catholics must observe the Eucharistic Fast, which involves taking nothing but water or medicine into the body for one hour before receiving the Eucharist. This was reduced from three hours by Pope Pius XII in 1957, and further reduced to one hour by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
In 1966, Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution, Paenitemini, recommended that fasting be appropriate to the local economic situation and that all Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. He also allowed fasting and abstinence to be substituted with prayer and charitable works, with the norms to be set by the Episcopal Conferences.
In the Byzantine Catholic tradition, Christmas Eve, or the Paramony/Vigil of Christmas, is a day of strict fasting if it falls on a weekday. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated in the morning, and the fast is considered over if there is a meal in the evening.
In 1959, Pope John XXIII allowed the Christmas Eve fast to be moved to December 23, and this change was adopted by some nations, including Canada and the Philippines. In 1962, the laws of fasting and abstinence were described in detail in "Moral Theology" by Rev. Heribert Jone, specifying complete abstinence on all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, and the vigils of Immaculate Conception and Christmas, among others.
While Christmas Eve is not a solemnity, the rules regarding Friday abstinence apply. If the national bishops' conference requires abstinence from meat on Fridays, then this applies to Christmas Eve as well, unless another form of penance is prescribed.
The Nativity Fast, or Philip's Fast, is observed in Eastern Catholic churches and begins on November 15, ending on Christmas Eve. It is a spiritual practice to prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ, with an emphasis on reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation.
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The Nativity Fast
The rules of the Nativity Fast include abstaining from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil. However, there is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Feast days during the fast, such as the Entry of the Theotokos on November 21st, allow for the consumption of fish, wine, and oil.
The Byzantine Catholic Tradition has kept the Vigil of Christmas, also known as Paramony or the Eve of Nativity, as a strict fast day for centuries. On this day, no solid food should be eaten until Sirius is seen in the evening sky or at least until after the Vesperal Divine Liturgy. If Paramony falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is not observed as a strict fast, and a meal with wine and oil may be consumed after the morning Liturgy.
The practice of the Nativity Fast is an ancient tradition that continues to be observed by Traditional Catholics, who find spiritual meaning and preparation in the anticipation of the Nativity of Jesus Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Christmas Eve was a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.
For most of Christian history, Christmas Eve was a day of fasting and abstinence, like the vigils of every major feast. The practice was designed to heighten the joy of the feast to come.
The Catholic Church recommended that fasting be appropriate for the local economic situation and that all Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. The norms for fasting are set by the Episcopal Conferences.
On fasting days, Catholics may eat only one full meal and two smaller meals, known as "collations", during the day. The requirements only relate to solid food, not drinks.
Traditional Catholics continue to fast on Christmas Eve. Byzantine Catholics also keep Christmas Eve as a day of fasting and abstinence. However, the Vigil of Christmas ceased being a day of fasting in the modern Catholic Church following changes in 1966.
