<P> Advent is considered a time of special self - examination, humility, and spiritual preparation in anticipation of the birth of Christ . Fridays and Saturdays in Advent were days of abstinence, and until early in the 20th century, the Fridays of Advent were also days of fasting . </P> <P> The vigils observed included the Saturday before Pentecost, October 31 (the vigil of All Saints), December 24 (Christmas Eve), December 7 (the vigil of the Immaculate Conception) and August 14 (the vigil of the Assumption). These vigils all required fasting; some also required abstinence . If any of these fell on a Sunday, the vigil, but not the obligation of fasting, was moved to the Saturday before . (Some other liturgical days were also known as vigils but neither fasting nor abstinence was required, particularly the vigils of feasts of the Apostles and the Vigil of the Epiphany .) By 1959 in the United States, the fast for the vigil of Christmas was moved to December 23 . </P> <P> Ember days occurred four times a year . The Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of the ember week were days of fast and abstinence, though the Wednesday and Saturday were often only days of partial abstinence . In addition, Roman Catholics were required to abstain from meat (but not fast) on all other Fridays, unless the Friday coincided with a holy day of obligation . </P> <P> The former regulations on abstinence obliged Roman Catholics starting as young as age seven, but there were many exceptions . Large classes of people were considered exempt from fasting and abstinence, not only the sick and those with physically demanding jobs, but also people traveling and students . The regulations were adapted to each nation, and so in most dioceses in America abstinence from meat was not required on the Friday after Thanksgiving, to accommodate any meat left over from that US national holiday . </P>

When can you start eating meat on fridays