Many people shake their heads when they hear about eating meat on Christmas Eve. In the past, Lent dishes dominated the tables, but today things are different. It turns out this issue changed in 2003.
According to the Roman Catholic Church, abstaining from meat, excluding fish, It is valid only twice a year – on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence from meat applies to people over 14 years of age. In turn, strict fasting applies from the age of 18 to 60. Those who are sick or have no choice of food are excluded.
According to canon law, we can eat meat on Christmas Evealthough according to tradition, Christmas Eve dinner is considered Lent. The ban on eating meat was lifted in 2003, but bishops call for abstinence.
READ ALSO:
In Christianity, Christmas Eve is a time of waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ. Fasting was about spiritual preparation for this great event. The faithful wanted to experience Christmas as best as possible.
Moreover, in the Catholic tradition, abstinence means penance and worrywhich takes on a completely new dimension in the context of waiting for the Savior.
Christmas Eve fasting was associated not only with religion, but also with culture. For example, in Central and Eastern Europe, sharing fasting meals with family was important. Dumplings and borscht with dumplings have always been served there, thus creating a certain culinary tradition.
In Poland, fish is usually served in various versions on Christmas Eve. Carp and herring are most often served on the Christmas Eve table. There are also other traditional Lent dishes, such as: red borscht with mushroom soup, dumplings, dumplings with poppy seeds or peas with cabbage. In turn, cakes associated with these holidays are poppy seed cakes, gingerbread and cheesecakes.
The first day of Christmas is very solemn and it is celebrated on a greater culinary scale – meat dishes dominate the table. In Polish culture, they are made from poultry, beef and pork. In addition, housewives also prepare traditional cold cuts and pates.
Most Polish homes still follow the tradition of fasting on Christmas Evedespite the lifting of the ban on eating meat by the church. The first and second day of Christmas is a real culinary feast.
