Can meat be eaten during holy week?

The question of whether meat can be eaten during Holy Week is an important one for many Christians. Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, is a solemn and reflective time when Christians commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this week, some Christians choose to fast or abstain from certain foods as a spiritual practice. So can meat be eaten during Holy Week? The answer depends on one’s particular Christian denomination, local customs, and personal devotion. While there are no universal rules, many churches encourage abstaining from meat on Good Friday and Holy Saturday at the minimum. Ultimately, the decision comes down to individual conscience and prayerful consideration of how to observe this holy time.

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When is Holy Week?

Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the 40-day period of preparation before Easter. It begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The following days of Holy Week observe the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday. Holy Week culminates with Holy Saturday, the day Jesus lay in the tomb, and ends on Easter Sunday, celebrating his resurrection from the dead. The key days of Holy Week are:

Palm Sunday: Commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem when people laid palms at his feet in homage.

Holy Monday: Commemorates Jesus cleansing the temple of money changers.
Holy Tuesday: Commemorates Jesus’ teachings at the temple.
Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday): Commemorates Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

Maundy Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the first communion with his disciples.
Good Friday: Commemorates Jesus’ trial, suffering, crucifixion, and death.
Holy Saturday: Commemorates Jesus lying in the tomb after his death.

Easter Sunday: Commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

The days of Holy Week have been observed by Christians since the earliest days of the church. The events provide the foundation of Christian belief and worship.

Different practices in Catholic and Protestant traditions

In the Catholic tradition, abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday, is a common practice. Many Catholics choose to abstain from meat on all Fridays as a weekly penance. However, the strict prohibition on eating meat on Fridays during Lent was lifted by the Catholic church following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. It is now considered a practice that each person may freely choose rather than an obligation. Many Catholics today voluntarily abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays as a form of sacrifice and penance.

In the various Protestant traditions, giving up meat for Lent or Holy Week is less common. Since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Protestants typically do not observe fasting or other sacrifices as religious obligations. However, many Protestants voluntarily choose to abstain from meat or other foods during Holy Week as a spiritual discipline. This allows them to focus on Christ’s sacrifice for humanity leading up to Easter.

So while mandatory prohibition of meat is a Catholic tradition, both Catholics and Protestants often freely choose to abstain from meat during Holy Week today as a means of introspection and spiritual devotion. But there are no universal rules that apply across all denominations and local churches.

Traditions in Orthodox churches

In Orthodox churches, including Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and others, abstaining from meat during Holy Week is an important tradition. Orthodox churches strictly adhere to fasting guidelines that forbid meat, dairy, eggs, fish, olive oil, and wine during Holy Week. These fasting rules are typically mandatory. Holy Week in the Orthodox tradition culminates in Pascha, the Orthodox Easter celebration, marking the end of the fast.

Key differences in the Orthodox fasting traditions during Holy Week include:

Meat and dairy are excluded all week, not just on Good Friday.
In some traditions, fish is also excluded.

Wine and olive oil may be forbidden as well.
The fast extends for at least 40 days through Holy Week.

For Orthodox Christians, abstaining from these foods is an important spiritual discipline and expression of faith leading up to the joyful celebration of Pascha and Jesus’ resurrection.

Local and cultural traditions

In addition to denominational practices, local culture and ethnicity often shape Holy Week traditions around food. Here are some examples of places where special customs forbid meat or include food symbolism during Holy Week:

In Italy, Easter cuisine focuses on eggs, breads, cheeses, and seafood while meat is avoided.
In Greece and Cyprus, Easter soup made from lamb offal is traditionally eaten after the Resurrection liturgy.

In the Philippines, meat is abstained from on Good Friday but chocolate meat substitutes are sometimes eaten.
In Mexico, a bread called pan de gloria is baked on Holy Saturday to symbolize the sealed tomb of Christ.

These local customs show how food can take on spiritual meaning related to the events of Holy Week and add to the cultural celebration of Easter. Whether abstaining from meat completely or incorporating symbolic recipes, food is an integral part of many people’s religious devotion during this time.

Should Christians avoid meat during Holy Week?

Whether or not Christians should avoid eating meat during Holy Week is ultimately a matter of personal choice and Christian freedom. Here are some factors for individuals to consider when deciding:

Personal devotion: Avoiding meat can enhance spiritual focus on Christ’s sacrifice.
Church teaching: Catholics are especially encouraged to abstain on Good Friday.

Health benefits: Cutting out meat provides health benefits like reducing cholesterol.
Social and family considerations: Eating less meat shows solidarity with vegetarian loved ones.
Animal welfare: Choosing plant-based meals honors God’s creation.

Environmental impact: Meat production has immense environmental costs.

However, Christians who feel called to avoid meat should be careful not to judge others based on personal diet choices. The most important focus of Holy Week is reflection on the core truths of Christianity, not outward religious demonstration.

Arguments for avoiding meat

There are several reasons Christians may feel a week without meat helps deepen their Holy Week experience:

Sacrifice and self-denial: Avoiding meat symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice and suffering. Going without something meaningful creates space for spiritual growth.
Focus the mind: Eliminating meat directs attention to prayer, scripture reading, and other Holy Week observances.
Connect with church history: Early Christians fasted during Lent and Holy Week. The tradition connects today’s believers with past devotion.

Anticipate Easter joy: Going meatless can make the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter more joyful.

For these reasons, many devoted Christians choose to leave meat off the Holy Week menu as a powerful spiritual practice.

Reasons eating meat may be acceptable

Several perspectives support the view that abstaining from meat is admirable but not required:

Christian freedom: The New Testament gives freedom regarding dietary choices. “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
Focus on Christ: Inner repentance matters more than outward sacrifice. “The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Public witness: Avoiding meat is not necessary for sharing Christ’s message today. “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)

Health needs: People with dietary issues due to health or ethics can nourish their bodies.
Celebration: Easter’s joy can be anticipated with celebratory meals.

According to these perspectives, meat can be incorporated into Holy Week while respecting those who abstain.

When meat is traditionally allowed during Holy Week

While practices vary widely, there are occasions when meat is traditionally consumed during Holy Week:

After Resurrection services: Orthodox Christians often eat meat again after the Easter liturgy and consider fasting to be over after Easter services. Some break the fast with a meal using meat even on Holy Saturday.
Easter Sunday: For Catholics who abstain from meat on Fridays, Easter Sunday signals the return of meat. Sunday has always been considered a feast day not a fast day.

Holy Thursday: Some Latino communities have celebrations on Holy Thursday with special meat dishes.
Paschal lamb: Historically the paschal lamb recalled the Passover sacrifice and could be eaten on Easter. Some churches revive this tradition today.

Beyond these exceptions, meat is abstained from during the Holy Week fast by churches that observe the tradition. Individuals can decide if they wish to incorporate meat within their Holy Week observance.

Alternatives to meat during Holy Week

Those wishing to avoid meat during Holy Week have plentiful alternatives to keep meals satisfying and celebratory:

Seafood dishes such as baked salmon or shrimp scampi
Vegetarian mains like eggplant Parmesan, lentil stew, or bean burritos

Meatless soups and chilis using veggies, beans, or broth
Pasta dishes, risottos, veggie curries, frittatas, and omelets
Salads and bowls loaded with vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds

Pizza, sandwiches, burritos, and wraps with meatless fillings
Tofu and tempeh prepared with various seasonings and sauces
Dairy-based mains including cheese ravioli, macaroni and cheese, or eggplant Parmesan

Simple meals highlighting quality bread with olive oil, cheese, or hummus

Holy Week menus can also incorporatesymbolic Easter foods like eggs, breads, seeds, and sweet cakes. With a little creativity, abstaining from meat for the week can result in wonderful meals.

Examples of meatless Holy Week menus

Here are some meal suggestions for going meatless during Holy Week while still serving satisfying and even celebratory fare:

Holy Week menu 1

Day	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Palm Sunday	Toast with avocado and egg	Minestrone soup	Pasta primavera
Holy Monday	Oatmeal with fruit	Black bean burrito	Eggplant Parmesan
Holy Tuesday	Bagel with smoked salmon	Greek salad	Vegetable curry with rice
Holy Wednesday	Frittata with greens	Lentil stew	Cheese pizza
Holy Thursday	French toast casserole	Seafood chowder	Cheese ravioli with marinara
Good Friday	Hot cross buns	Minestrone soup	Rice and beans
Holy Saturday	Potato, onion, and egg hash	Garden salad	Pasta with pesto

Holy Week menu 2

Day	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Palm Sunday	Spinach omelet	Vegetable barley soup	Eggplant Parmesan over pasta
Holy Monday	Whole grain cereal	Falafel pita sandwich	Cheese enchiladas with beans and rice
Holy Tuesday	Toast with nut butter	Spring salad with chickpeas	Vegetable lasagna
Holy Wednesday	Overnight oats with fruit	Black bean burger	Pizza with veggies and olives
Holy Thursday	Scrambled eggs and toast	Minestrone soup	Gnocchi with pesto
Good Friday	Oatmeal with nuts and seeds	Rice and bean bowl	Fried tofu and stir fry veggies
Holy Saturday	Bagel with smoked salmon	Greek salad	Pasta primavera

These meal plans provide nourishing plant-based and seafood options to enhance Holy Week. The menus can be adjusted based on dietary needs and local traditions.

Conclusion

The question of eating meat during Holy Week does not have one right answer for all Christians. Some choose to avoid meat completely, while others see it as a matter of personal freedom. Much depends on individual conscience, church background, and local customs. What remains most important is using this holy time to redirect focus from earthly concerns to spiritual growth and celebration of Christ’s passion and resurrection. Whether or not meat is included at the table, Holy Week invites us to step out of ordinary routines, fast from self-indulgence, sacrifice for others, and reflect on the core mysteries of our faith.