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Do’s and Don’ts during Lent (Do’s and Don’ts during Lent)
Fasting is always a limitation. Moreover, not only in food, but also in habits and even entertainment. However, there is nothing in excess of such abstinence – people have been observing Great Lent for centuries and the fact that something cannot be eaten or something cannot be done does not frighten them.
Lent consists of many prohibitions, many very different “no”, which is quite logical. What is not allowed during fasting to eat? You should deny yourself the following products:
animal products (meat, fish, chicken, milk, eggs);
white bread, buns;
candies;
mayonnaise.
Also, most of the fast will not be allowed to cook and eat food with butter. However, there are also indulgences – on the twelve holidays (Annunciation and Palm Sunday,) it is allowed to eat fish, on Lazarev Saturday (on the eve of Palm Sunday) fish caviar. In general, fasting can be either strict or non-strict. In the second case, secular people are allowed to eat fish or add oil to food.
What shouldn’t be done during Lent?
This is not to say that the dietary component is the basis of fasting, on the contrary, the basis of fasting is its spiritual part. Thus, the meaning of Lent is repentance, which requires restrictions in habits and lifestyle. Therefore, there are certain recommendations regarding what not to do in the post:
you cannot smoke and consume alcoholic beverages (except for wine on permitted days and in acceptable volumes);
it is advisable to limit social interaction and external impressions, for example, you can not go to the cinema, you should not attend concerts, it is better to reduce TV viewing, etc.;
during the fast, marital abstinence is recommended.
Lent is a time when a Christian frees his body and soul from various earthly needs that enslave his spirit. Therefore, it is important to remember not only what should not be eaten during the fast, but also what should not be done during the fast. It is not enough to simply “go on a diet,” since a true Orthodox fast is both bodily and spiritual abstinence.