Can You Eat Meat on Ash Wednesday? Fasting Rules For Lent 2012

Ash Wednesday 2012 takes place on February 22, 2012. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day span when Catholics honor the resurrection of Jesus.

Can You Eat Meat On Ash Wednesday?

If you are a practicing Catholic, then the simple answer is no. Ash Wednesday fasting rules, as outlined by the Catholic law of abstinence, state that Catholics aged 14 and over should not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are expected to fast on Ash Wednesday, meaning they should only eat one large meal or two small meals.

If you're looking for further guidance, here is some advice on fasting from Catholic.org.

Ash Wednesday History

Today is Ash Wednesday, which begins the 40 days of the Lenten season (Lent). You'll see lots of people coming out of church with black ash on their foreheads. The ash is made from burning last year's palms from Palm Sunday.

Lent is not mentioned in the Bible, but is observed by most western Christian denominations.  

Ash Wednesday begins 46 days before Easter; the 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays.