The
Roman Catholic branch of
Christianity is more lenient than the
Eastern Orthodox in
fasting and
abstinence. Since
Vatican II, dietary regulations have become even more lenient, focusing primarily on the
Lenten season (as
m_turner said.)
Before
Vatican II in the
Tridentine era,
Catholics were to abstain from
meat and meat products (
broths,
soups etc) on every
Friday, even those outside of Lent. Abstinence was also observed on the
vigil of the
Immaculate Conception and
Christmas Eve, as well as on the
Ember Days of the year.
Compulsory abstinence was one of the marks of Catholic
identity as opposed to many
Protestants who rejected abstinence outright.
Coincidentally the "Protestant"
insult for Catholics, "
mackerel snapper", derives from Friday abstinence.
After
Vatican II American Catholics were permitted to drop Friday abstinence outside Lent if individuals substituted a "
charitable act". This loosening of regulations caused many Catholics in the US to assume that Friday abstinence was gone when it merely
recessed in practice but not importance. Still, "fish Fridays" were and are the quickest way for most people to fulfill their
rememberance of the
Crucifixion of
Christ (thought to occur on Friday.)
It used to be that every
weekday of
Lent was a fast day, meaning two small meals not equaling one normal meal and a regular (
meatless)
dinner. After Vatican II, Lenten weekday fasting was eliminated, reduced only to compulsory adult fasting on
Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday, Ember days having been dropped upon the
promulgation of the
Novus Ordo. One might argue that the concept of
Carnivale celebrations are mitigated by reduced
dietary regulations, but both the
celebrations and the intent of dietary penance is still alive, albeit in a more
liberal form.