Ash Wednesday
Feb 18
Easter
Apr 5
Ascension
May 14
Pentecost
May 24
First Sunday of Advent
Nov 29
This year Western Easter falls on Apr 5 and Julian Pascha on Apr 12.
Canonical minimums
Locked in for United States (USCCB). These always apply, whatever observance you choose.
- ✠Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: fasting (one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal; ages 18–59) and abstinence from meat (ages 14+).
- ✠All Fridays of Lent: abstinence from meat.
- ✠Fridays outside Lent: penitential days — abstinence from meat or another act of penance (USCCB, 1966).
- ✠A solemnity falling on a Friday dispenses the Friday abstinence (c. 1251).
Fasting vs. abstinence
Fasting (how much and when): one full meal and two smaller collations that together do not equal a full meal; no eating between meals.
Abstinence (what is excluded): no flesh meat (mammals and fowl); fish, eggs and dairy are permitted.
Fast-freeOrdinary dayNo meatNo meat, dairyNo meat, dairy, eggs+ no fish (wine & oil)+ no wineStrict abstinenceFasting dayStrict fastGreat feast / solemnityPenitential day
January
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
February
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
March
LentS
M
T
W
T
F
S
April
EastertideS
M
T
W
T
F
S
May
EastertideS
M
T
W
T
F
S
June
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
July
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
August
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
September
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
October
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
November
Ordinary TimeS
M
T
W
T
F
S
December
AdventS
M
T
W
T
F
S
Traditional disciplines for the non-Byzantine Eastern Churches are simplified. Particular law and your pastor's guidance take precedence; illness, pregnancy, age and hard labour excuse from fasting.