Author Topic: Christmas Eve: Traditionally Day of Fast and Abstinence? (Read 4882 times)

2Vermont · « **on:** December 21, 2014, 08:28:04 AM »

I just heard that Christmas Eve is traditionally a day of fast and abstinence. Is this true? Also, is anyone observing this this year?

Miseremini · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2014, 01:05:48 PM »

This has always been a day of fast and abstinance as with the vigils of other major feasts.

Yes, even if at family gatherings where meat is available we abstain and follow the fast.

Nadir · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2014, 01:09:22 PM »

Quote from: Miseremini

This has always been a day of fast and abstinance as with the vigils of other major feasts.

Yes, even if at family gatherings where meat is available we abstain and follow the fast.

How far back is always? I lived 22 years pre-new-order, was raised by the most Catholic parents who always went by the book. I have not heard of this before.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2014, 01:13:39 PM »

We had oyster stew on Christmas Eve, way back when.

JezusDeKoning · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2014, 01:30:44 PM »

This might just be the Hispanic custom of putting Christmas Eve on a higher pedestal than the following holiday, but that was always the day we had Christmas dinner. It certainly wasn't perfect, but my parents did try to kind of live the Faith.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2014, 02:37:07 PM »

According to my TAN calendar Christmas eve is a day of abstinence, not fast.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2014, 04:32:22 PM »

We fast and then have fish for dinner. Then finish decorating our tree and then go to Mass.

Stubborn · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2014, 04:49:56 PM »

We never eat meat on Christmas Eve, that used to be the rule, still is far as I'm concerned but I'm pretty sure the NO did away with it.

Stubborn · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2014, 04:55:18 PM »

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2324-just-reminder-that.html

According to the chapter on "Feasts and Fasts throughout the Year" in The New Marian Missal for Daily Mass, compiled by Fr. Sylvester P. Juergens SM and published by Regina Press, NY, in 1963, December 24 was a day of fasting and complete abstinence in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the USA. In Canada and the Philippines the fasting and abstinence of December 24 were moved to December 23.

http://paramedicgoldengirl.blogspot.com/2008/02/pre-vatican-ii-fasting-guidelines.html

Complete abstinence is to be observed on all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Vigils of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas, and on Holy Saturday. Partial abstinence is to be observed on Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays, and on the Vigil of Pentecost.

http://www.sspxasia.com/Docuмents/The_Church_Year/first-Sunday-of-advent.htm

Which are the most important fast days, and days of abstinence?

All the weekdays of Lent; the Fridays in Advent; the Ember days for the four seasons of the year; and the Vigils of All-Saints, Christmas, Whitsunday, and the Assumption. If the Feast, however, occurs on Monday, the vigil is kept on the Saturday before; as Sunday is never a fast day.'

Miseremini · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2014, 06:44:43 PM »

Quote from: Nadir

Quote from: Miseremini
This has always been a day of fast and abstinance as with the vigils of other major feasts.

Yes, even if at family gatherings where meat is available we abstain and follow the fast.

How far back is always? I lived 22 years pre-new-order, was raised by the most Catholic parents who always went by the book. I have not heard of this before.

I know we observed it in the 1940's and 1950's
It is the rule in the "Prayer Book for Religious" by Fr. Lasance dated 1904 (which pre-dates any missal for the laity) and everyone of his books thereafter.
Also the St. Andrew Missal, St. Joseph Missal, New Marian Missal, the Ideal Missal all dated before 1961.

2Vermont · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2014, 07:08:51 PM »

Why thank you all!

MaterDominici · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2014, 08:23:10 PM »

We've always fasted and abstained on the 24th, but were told in this morning's announcements at Mass that we could pick -- 23rd or 24th. I'd never heard that before.

Mabel · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2014, 08:37:13 PM »

Quote from: MaterDominici

We've always fasted and abstained on the 24th, but were told in this morning's announcements at Mass that we could pick -- 23rd or 24th. I'd never heard that before.

I have never heard that. My understanding was that the U.S. bishops petitioned for changes on Christmas Eve but were never granted so before the Council.

We have always fasted and abstained and will do so this year. It helps that the food is not tempting in the least.

Marlelar · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2014, 08:39:01 PM »

Nothing was said about any fast or abstinence at our chapel in Phoenix and nothing in the bulletin either. We also were not reminded about the Ember days last week, neither from the pulpit nor the bulletin.

Marsha

Miseremini · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2014, 09:01:31 PM »

Quote from: Marlelar

Nothing was said about any fast or abstinence at our chapel in Phoenix and nothing in the bulletin either. We also were not reminded about the Ember days last week, neither from the pulpit nor the bulletin.

Marsha

The SSPX calendar for Canada showed both the Ember Days and the 24th as a day of fast and abstinence.

If you use a daily missal at Mass, last Sunday when you went to place the ribbon marker for today you would have seen Ember Wednesday.