Summary
Every year, as Lent approaches, the same questions arise. What days can you not eat meat? Are fasting and abstinence the same thing? From what age is it obligatory? Are there exceptions? In this guide: Fasting and abstinence in Lent: what the Church says today, Abstinence and fasting: two different rules, Who is obliged and who is not.
Fasting and abstinence in Lent: what the Church says today
Every year, as Lent approaches, the same questions arise. What days can you not eat meat? Are fasting and abstinence the same thing? From what age is it obligatory? Are there exceptions?
The rules have changed over the centuries. What the Catholic Church requires today is considerably more flexible than many people believe. Let's break it down clearly.
Lent 2026 runs from February 18 (Ash Wednesday) to April 5 (Easter Sunday). These are 40 days that prepare for the celebration of Easter.
Abstinence and fasting: two different rules
This is the most common confusion. Abstinence and fasting are two distinct obligations with their own rules.
Abstinence
Abstaining means not eating meat from land animals. This includes:
- Beef, pork, lamb, goat
- Chicken, turkey, duck, and other poultry
- Rabbit, hare, small game
- Cured meats and meat derivatives: ham, chorizo, salchichón, bacon, sausages
Does NOT include:
- Fish of any kind (hake, cod, salmon, tuna...)
- Shellfish (shrimp, prawns, mussels, clams...)
- Eggs
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter)
- Animal broths and gelatin (there's debate, but they are not explicitly forbidden)
Days of abstinence in 2026:
- Ash Wednesday: February 18
- Friday, February 20
- Friday, February 27
- Friday, March 6
- Friday, March 13
- Friday, March 20
- Friday, March 27
- Good Friday: April 3
That's 8 days of abstinence in total.
Fasting
Fasting means having only one full meal a day. Two light meals ("collations") are permitted, which, when combined, should not equal the main meal in quantity.
In practice: you can have a light breakfast (coffee with toast), a normal lunch, and a light dinner (soup, a small salad, a glass of milk with cookies).
Days of fasting in 2026:
- Ash Wednesday: February 18
- Good Friday: April 3
Only 2 days of obligatory fasting per year. Both are also days of abstinence, so they are combined: one complete meal and no meat.
Who is obliged and who is not
The rules do not apply to everyone equally. The Church establishes clear age limits and circumstances.
Abstinence from meat
- Obligatory: for all Catholics aged 14 and over.
- Not obligatory: under 14 years old.
Fasting
- Obligatory: for Catholics between 18 and 59 years old (inclusive).
- Not obligatory: under 18 and over 59.
Exemptions
The following are exempt from both rules:
- Sick or convalescing individuals
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Individuals whose doctor advises against dietary restrictions
- Workers with very intense physical activity
- Individuals experiencing food poverty
The Church insists that these rules should be observed with common sense. If your health is affected, you are exempt. There is no obligation to risk physical well-being.
Historical evolution: it used to be much stricter
The current rules are the result of a long, progressive relaxation. To put it in context:
- 4th-12th centuries: abstinence included meat, eggs, dairy products, and sometimes fish. Fasting was observed every day of Lent (except Sundays). Only one meal a day was allowed, after 3 PM.
- 13th century: eggs and dairy products were permitted in most dioceses.
- 16th century: mealtime was moved to noon, and a collation was allowed in the evening.
- 1917: the Code of Canon Law systematized the rules. Abstinence every Friday of the year, fasting during Lent.
- 1966: Paul VI simplified the rules with the constitution Paenitemini. Obligatory abstinence was reduced to Fridays of Lent and Ash Wednesday. Fasting was reduced to two days.
- 1983: the new Code of Canon Law confirmed these rules, which are still in force today.
What is asked today is minimal compared to what was required centuries ago. Two days of fasting and eight days of abstinence from meat per year.
Practical guide: how to live Lent at the table
If you want to follow the tradition (by faith, custom, or gastronomic curiosity), here is a practical guide.
The 8 days of abstinence
Substitute meat with fish, eggs, or legumes. Some ideas:
- Breakfast: toast with tomato and olive oil. Coffee with milk. Fruit.
- Lunch: "potaje de vigilia" (chickpea, spinach, cod stew), or baked cod with potatoes, or potato omelet with salad.
- Dinner: vegetable soup, salad with anchovies and hard-boiled egg, or cream of zucchini.
The 2 days of fasting (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday)
One main meal (without meat) and two light collations. Example:
- Morning: coffee with milk and a small piece of toast.
- Midday: complete meal. "Potaje de vigilia" or cod with vegetables. Fruit for dessert.
- Evening: a glass of milk with cookies, or a light soup with bread.
The rest of the days of Lent
No mandatory restrictions. You can eat whatever you want. Many people voluntarily choose to reduce meat consumption throughout Lent, eat more simply, or make an extra food sacrifice (give up alcohol, sweets, or coffee). These are voluntary practices, not obligations.
Lent and Spanish cuisine
Lenten rules have shaped Spanish gastronomy in ways that transcend the religious. "Potaje de vigilia", torrijas, pestiños, cod al pil pil, "fabada de vigilia": all these dishes originated from the need to eat well without meat.
It is a valuable gastronomic legacy. It also aligns with what modern nutritional science recommends: more fish, more legumes, more vegetables, less meat. Lenten cuisine is not just tradition: it is nutritional common sense.
If you want to bring this tradition to your table, at bacalalo.com you will find everything you need: premium Icelandic cod, Cantabrian anchovies, artisan cod croquettes and much more. Shipping throughout Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don't fast or abstain during Lent
From a religious point of view, knowingly breaking these rules without just cause is considered a sin. From a practical point of view, it is a personal decision. Many Catholics do not follow them to the letter, and many non-Catholics follow them due to family or cultural tradition.
Can abstinence from meat be replaced by another penance
Yes. The Spanish Episcopal Conference allows for the replacement of meat abstinence on Fridays of Lent (except Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) with another form of penance: giving alms, praying more, helping someone in need, etc. The two days of obligatory fasting cannot be replaced.
Do Sundays in Lent count for fasting
No. Sundays are never days of fasting or abstinence in Lent. The 40 days of Lent are counted excluding Sundays. Sunday is a day of celebration of the Resurrection, even within Lent.
Is Lent only for Catholics
The rules of fasting and abstinence are obligatory only for baptized Catholics. However, the gastronomic tradition (torrijas, potaje, cod during Holy Week) is a shared cultural heritage of all Spanish society, regardless of faith.
What time should you eat on fasting days
There is no fixed time. The main meal can be at midday or in the evening, depending on each person's circumstances. The two light collations are distributed among the other two meals of the day. The Church does not specify times, only quantities.
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