Question:Â Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Can you eat meat on Ash Wednesday?
Answer: Under the current rules for fasting and abstinence, Ash Wednesday is a day of strict fasting (only one full meal, and two small snacks that don't add up to to a full meal) for all Catholics from 18 to 59, and abstinence from all meat and foods made with meat for all Catholics over the age of 14.
This fasting and abstinence remind us that Lent is a penitential season.
For more details about fasting and abstinence during Lent, see What Are the Rules for Fasting and Abstinence in the Catholic Church? For the date of Ash Wednesday in this and future years, see When Is Ash Wednesday?
And if you need ideas for recipes for Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent, you can find an extensive collection from around the world in Lenten Recipes: Meatless Recipes for Lent and Throughout the Year.