Phillip's Fast
Continued

The Christmas Fast Guidelines

The Holy Canons specify the following guidelines:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays to December 12:
• Abstinence of: Meat & Meat Products, Dairy Products
• No abstinence of: Fish, Shellfish, Vegetables & Vegetable Products, Olive Oil; Fruit, wine

On these days there is no regulation of the number of meals or quantity of food taken:
Wednesdays & Fridays, and all weekdays

Dec 13-24: 
• Abstinence of: Meat & Meat Products, Dairy Products, fish, Olive Oil, Wine
• No abstinence of: Shellfish, Vegetables & Vegetable Products, Fruits

On Wednesdays and Fridays, food should not be eaten between meals, and meals themselves should be moderate in quantity. It is often customary to eat only one meal a day. During the Christmas Fast, from December 13 to December 24 inclusive, the Fast becomes stricter, and olive oil and wine are permitted only on Saturdays and Sundays. Fish is not permitted from the 13th to the 24th.

Making Sense of the Christmas Fast in America Today

In the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches, the period from November 15 through December 24 is a period of Fasting, Abstinence, and Preparation for the Great-Feast of the Nativity of Christ. One of the four major fasts of the year, it is variously called the Nativity Fast, the Christmas Lent, or the Philipine Fast (since it begins the day after the feast of St. Philip). 
No matter what it is called, however, it is one of most difficult fast periods for people living in the Western world to keep.  The pre-Christmas period in America is generally one of parties, social events and general excess. How is the Orthodox Christian to follow the Tradition of his Church, but also live in his native culture?

Part of the difficulty lies in our society's inability to understand the necessity of anticipation and waiting. We are so used to instant soup, instant replays, and instant gratification, that the concept of pre-paring for a feast by fasting does not set well.

Coupled with this is a loss of a strong sense of sacred time and season. We move holidays (and Holy Days) to accommodate to "practical life,"  rather than vice versa. "A time for everything and every-thing in its time," has become "Everything all of the time...when I want it."

As in many other aspects of life, then, the Orthodox Christian must be prepared to be counter-cultural, that is, to live in a different way than those in his surrounding milieu. In doing this he must realize the dangers involved:

1. The external observances of our Faith do not
make us better than anyone else.  No sense of superiority or exclusiveness should be allowed to enter into our practice.
2. Insofar as possible, it is best to fast quietly, without letting anyone know that you are fasting. This is clearly in line with Our Lord's teaching.  When ordering at a restaurant, don't proclaim, "No meat for me, I'm fasting!"  Just order the dish which accords with the fast.
3. Do not become discouraged if you are unable to keep the whole fast (see notes below). The Evil Spirit is always on the lookout to fool us into giving up because we cannot do it all. Part of fasting is to learn our weakness and inability to save ourselves.
4. Remember that Fasting includes a) fasting from sin; b) additional spiritual reading and prayer; c) almsgiving and other works of Philanthropia ("the love of humankind").  Do not neglect these as you prepare for the Feast.

How then can we keep the Christmas Fast in America today? Here are several suggestions; you may have others. No matter what else happens, however, do not abandon the preparation for the Nativity!

Take seriously the food requirements of the Fast, tempered by your health and situation. In Northern California, a normally healthy person can live very well within the borders of even the traditional fast: we have so many restaurants and stores which provide Tofu, shellfish and other seafood. Remember that different days have different fast requirements. Check these carefully, and use whatever is given for that day.

If you cannot keep the whole fast, do the best you can. Most people refrain from meat at the most basic level, though some, because of health or situation, can only do this on Wednesdays and Fridays, or only during the day and not at night. Some decide to go ahead and use dairy products, but not in combination with other foods (i.e.: A Cheese pizza, but not with anchovies or shrimp). Others generally concede dairy products in things like Tuna salad sandwiches, but give up cream in their coffee.

In cultural festivals, such as Thanksgiving, Kwanza ,Posadas and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, enjoy yourself, and then return to the fast after the celebration.

Don't fall, get discouraged, and give up. An important aspect of the Fast is to keep the Season in our minds often during the day. While we are not encouraging slacking off, the occasion when there is nothing more "fasting" at the corner deli than a cheese sandwich, can also provide a reminder of the time and season. Not eating between meals can be a powerful reminder to those of us who are compulsive nibblers!

At office and other pre-Christmas parties, do the best you can to eat hors-d'oeuvres and entrées which contain as few non-fast products as possible. But remember, eat what is set before you (without taking unfair advantage of St. Paul's dictum). In most circumstances there are choices. Ideally, alcohol is avoided on many days of the fast, which also accords with safe driving!

Do not throw pre-Christmas parties yourself. Instead, plan post-Christmas festivities.   The English-speaking & Celtic worlds have the wonderful tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Make it more than a popular party carol!  Most people will welcome a happy gathering between Christmas and Theophany, especially one that they don't have to run!  This also helps to alleviate those "after the holidays blues." 

Emphasize a more regular pattern to your day, including times for prayer and reading. Cut down on frivolous TV or other entertainments. This does not preclude, however, the many very worthwhile concerts and performances common in most areas, which, because of their religious nature, are most appropriate, and provide a healthy boost to our preparations.

Carefully follow the Liturgical calendar of the six weeks prior to Christmas. The many feasts give us many examples of holiness and images of grace. Celebrate these with creative cooking and appropriate observances in Church and at home. Use the  several excellent books listed above to help in keeping the fast periods, and in coming to feel comfortable with being part of "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a nation set apart."

For Spiritual Reading during the Nativity Fast, there are some very fine books available:
Conaris, Anthony  Making Christ real in the Orthodox Home
Archimandrite Lev Gillet The Year of Grace of the Lord [Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Press.]
Hopko, Fr. Thomas The Winter Pascha [Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Press 1984]
_________________ A Lenten Cookbook for Orthodox Christians (St. Nectarios Press)
Melkite Eparchy  Guide to the Domestic Church [West Newton, MA: Eparchy of Newton]
Russo, Fr. Romanos Kenosis: A Byzantine Understanding of Christmas [West Newton, MA: Eparchy of Newton, 1989]

Previous Page