CHRISTMAS FAST: TRADITION, RULES, AND CUSTOMS

The Christmas Fast begins on November 28 this year and lasts for 40 days, ending on Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7. This period involves abstinence from rich foods as well as refraining from bad deeds and harmful thoughts.

During the fast, until December 31, fasting on water is observed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while Tuesdays and Thursdays permit meals prepared with oil. On Saturdays and Sundays, fish is allowed.

In the final week of the fast, the rules tighten: fasting on water is observed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays allow meals prepared with oil.

According to Saint Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović, fasting involves not only abstaining from rich foods but also from evil thoughts, lustful desires, and harmful actions. It is a time for increased prayer, acts of charity, and dedicated practice of Christian virtues. Fasting is both a physical and spiritual effort.

The goals, as Saint Nikolaj teaches, are to "purify the body, strengthen the will, elevate the soul above the body, all for the glorification of God and in honor of His saints."

The Christmas Fast was established to prepare us for the Nativity of Christ through repentance, prayer, and fasting. Its purpose is to help us greet the Son of God with pure hearts, souls, and bodies. Alongside traditional gifts and sacrifices, the fast encourages us to offer our pure hearts and a sincere desire to follow His teachings.

However, a common question arises in our tradition: are people who do not fast considered sinful?

"We are constantly living in sin," explains Father Gojko Perović. "Our attachment to food, rest, and relaxation often turns these into idols... This leads to a life of indulgence. Yet, fasting is essential for the nourishment of the spirit. A person who does not fast is not necessarily sinning, but they are not helping themselves either. Fasting is a way to free oneself from sin. When a person commits to fasting, their soul and body are cleansed of sin."

Father Gojko continues:

"A person is not the whole world. We must constantly strive. If you were content yesterday, that does not mean a new problem won’t arise tomorrow. This is why daily effort is necessary—again and again, to free ourselves from sin. Fasting is good because it helps us in this effort to be free from sin."