Signs and superstitions 

Meals at Advent. What and when you can eat in the Christmas post. What does fast food mean? Refraining from junk food. On Great Lent and Fast Food

The question, apparently, arose because some believers incorrectly believe that on the day of Communion, after receiving the Holy Mysteries, one should not eat meat. This opinion arose due to a misunderstanding of the spiritual meaning of fasting. Fasting before communion was established as a feat of abstinence, so that we acquire a reverent disposition for the acceptance of the greatest shrine. After Communion, if there is no fasting, you can eat any food.

Church rules prescribe the observance of charter fasts, but forbid to shun meat or any other food. So, in the "Apostolic Canons" it is said: "If anyone, a bishop, or a presbyter, or a deacon, or in general from the sacred rank, is removed from marriage and meat and wine, not for the sake of the feat of abstinence, but because of abhorrence, forgetting that all good is green and that God, creating man, man and woman, created them, and thus blaspheming, slanders the creation: either let it be corrected, or let it be expelled from the sacred rank and rejected from the Church. So is the layman” (51st rule). This decree is based on the statement of the holy Apostle Paul: “For every creation of God is good, and nothing is reprehensible if it is accepted with thanksgiving, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4: 4-5).

Commenting on the above apostolic canon, Bishop Nikodim (Milosz) writes: “Already at the very beginning of the existence of the Church of Christ, various heretics appeared, preaching that it is sinful and not pleasing to God to marry, eat meat and drink wine, and forbade all this to their followers. This view stemmed from the concept of the Gnostics about matter in general, which, according to their teaching, is the creation of the devil and, therefore, unconditional evil. This false notion developed especially among the Encratites and Marcionites, who insisted more than other Gnostics on the practical application of such a view. The words of Holy Scripture quoted at the beginning of this interpretation already serve as an obvious condemnation of this Gnostic doctrine of matter as absolute evil. We find the same thing in the Apostolic Decrees (VI. 8, 10, 26), which distinguish the Marcionites, who abhorred marriage, meat and wine by virtue of their dualistic principles (good and evil), from the Encratites, who held this view out of some kind of hypocritical pride. . From the aforementioned heretics, this teaching began to penetrate into the Orthodox milieu. To prevent this evil, the apostolic canon praises abstention from marriage and the use of meat and wine for a Christian purpose, that is, as an exercise in virtue, but it sharply condemns all who do this from heretical motives and prescribes: to every clergyman who adheres to such a teaching, to indicate, first of all, on the gospel teaching; if it does not obey and remains stubborn in evil, then such a person is not only cast out of a hierarchical degree, but is generally excluded from the Church altogether as a follower of the heretical teaching on temperance.

Solid weeks in 2019 are weeks in which there are no fast days. During the year, in addition to multi-day fasts, there are also one-day fasts - on Wednesday (the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas) and on Friday (in memory of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ). These days it is forbidden to eat fast food: meat, eggs, milk and products containing animal proteins. Also, on fasting days, it is not allowed to hold entertainment events and there is a ban on the proximity of spouses. According to the teaching of the church, these rules exist to maintain active faith, not nominal.

A solid week - what is it?

The teachings of the church are not just prohibitions and restrictions. In addition to holidays, solemn days and blessed events, several times a year Orthodox people hold festivities for a whole week, which is called a week (from the Church Slavonic “seven”, that is, seven days). Solid week, omnivorous, bright week - all these names are used to denote a week in which there are no fast days. The whole church is celebrating - some changes in worship are noticeable, the vestments of the clergy and parishioners are festive, and, of course, eating a variety of food is allowed.

Days of solid weeks

There are five continuous weeks in a year. As usual, these are joyful days after the Nativity of Christ - Christmas time from January 7 to 17.

To support Christians before the start of Lenten, the church established the Cheese Week - Shrovetide, when it is allowed to eat any fast food - butter, milk, eggs, fish, but without meat on March 4-10).

After the main event for Christians - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - fasting is prohibited, because the joy is so great that people celebrate for several days - in 2019, Bright Easter Week from April 28 to May 4.

Fifty days after Easter, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of the Holy Trinity, or Pentecost (June 16), which is also followed by a continuous week. Trinity week or Green week - "mermaid", "wire" - the week before Peter's fast.

Having become familiar with the concepts of continuous weeks, it is easier to experience Lenten time in anticipation of the great holidays of the Orthodox Church.

Orthodox fasts are of great importance in the lives of believers. This is a time of spiritual and physical cleansing. It is important to understand that Orthodox parishioners refuse not only fast food, but also other earthly blessings. When the Christmas fast begins, it is forbidden to visit any entertainment establishments, lead an intimate life, and spend days in idleness. During this period, a Christian should analyze his actions, repent of sins, pray a lot for himself, his loved ones and the whole world, give alms and help those who need it. Forgiveness of any offenses, rejection of sinful thoughts is considered important. Eating during fasting excludes any animal food, including fish.

Time for Advent

The Advent begins and ends always on the same dates. Every year on November 27, the church celebrates the Memorial Day of St. Philip the Apostle. Immediately after this, abstinence begins for forty days. That is why the Nativity Fast is also called Filippov. From November 28, Orthodox Christians must stop eating fast food. The post ends on January 6, with the appearance of the first star. Until the 12th century, abstinence lasted only seven days, but at the sacred council of 1166, Patriarch Luke of Constantinople announced the will of the church to fast for 40 days. This period was considered sufficient to cleanse the soul and body from filth, so that it would be possible to celebrate the feast of the birth of Christ with pure thoughts and repentance. Since then, the Advent fast has lasted exactly forty days.

Foods not to eat while fasting

The main forbidden foods are meat, eggs, dairy products, spirits. They should not be eaten on any of the days of the Philippi fast. Fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as during Orthodox holidays, such as the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. It must be remembered that the New Year, celebrated from December 31 to January 1, is not a holiday according to the rules of the church. Therefore, believers observe fasting on this day as strictly as on ordinary days.

But simply avoiding animal foods is not enough. The Orthodox calendar shows what kind of food should be on the days of fasting. In particular, Wednesday and Friday are dry days. These days you can not eat not only fish and wine, but even food with vegetable oil. If the great Orthodox holidays fall on Wednesday and Friday, then it is allowed to add some wine to the diet. On Tuesday and Thursday, food with vegetable oil is allowed, and on Saturday and Sunday it can be varied with fish dishes. If the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, fish is allowed.

Hot food and dry eating during the Advent

How the food is prepared also matters. There is in Orthodoxy such a thing as dry eating. This means that you can only eat food that has not undergone heat treatment. Usually these are vegetables, fruits, nuts, honey. Bread, oddly enough, also refers to dry eating. Hot drinks are strictly prohibited. You can only drink water. If a great feast falls on Wednesday or Friday, you may add some church wine to your table.

Dry eating is observed on Wednesday and Friday throughout the fast. These days you can eat only uncooked food without vegetable oil. On Monday, hot food is allowed, but also without oil, but not in the very last week of fasting. In general, food during the Advent consists of any non-fast food. It must be consumed in limited quantities. To observe proper nutrition on fasting days, you can purchase a special calendar and check the list of allowed foods every day.

What did they eat in Russia on Christmas Lent

In Russia, on fasting days, they ate porridge, mushrooms, honey, berries, and vegetables. And in the southern regions, there are also fruits. From these products you can cook a variety of hearty meals. On weekends and holidays, fish is added to them, so the food during the Advent can be tasty and nutritious.

Groats were in Russia long before the appearance of potatoes. Therefore, porridges were varied, tasty and healthy. In the old days, they saved themselves from beriberi with sauerkraut, which contains a large amount of vitamin C. Delicious thick jelly was cooked from oat starch and dried berries and fruits. Where there were dried fruits, compotes were prepared.

What do they eat on Advent

People who have never fasted and are only planning to do so for the first time do not know what to eat. They ask: “What do they eat on Advent?” Meat and dairy products are the basis of the average Russian diet. If they are removed, not much food remains. But it seems so only at first glance.

Today, the choice of products is much greater than 100 years ago. Fruits and vegetables are available all year round, legumes such as lentils and beans have appeared in large numbers. Beans are an excellent source of energy.

It is useful to diversify your fasting table with soy products, such as vegetable tofu cheese, it will make up for the lack of protein in the body. It is also recommended to add sesame seeds to the diet. They compensate for the lack of calcium in the body, which occurs due to the lack of dairy products. On days when hot food is allowed, it will be useful to boil cereals. The absence of milk in porridge is easy to replace with fruits, vegetables and dried fruits. So, it is very tasty to serve buckwheat porridge with prunes, rice porridge with raisins, millet porridge with pumpkin and dried apricots. The strictest period in Orthodoxy is Lent. Food at this time excludes fish food, there are much more dry days.

Last week of fasting

The food during Advent during the last week is the strictest. Fish are completely excluded. On Monday, the menu is the same as on Wednesday and Friday, that is, you can not eat hot food and vegetable oil. On Christmas Eve, complete fasting is prescribed all day and evening until the first star appears in the sky. This is a sign of the birth of Christ. Now we can start celebrating Christmas. The main dish on the table that day, or rather the evening, is juicy - grains of wheat, lentils and other grains boiled in honey. Nuts, raisins, poppy seeds are added to steamed porridge. No other food is eaten that evening. The next morning, after the service and communion, it is allowed to eat dairy products, an egg, vegetable oil. Thus ends the Advent.

Relaxation during fasting

Keeping fasts is an important duty of every Christian, but there are categories of people for whom violation of prohibitions is not considered sinful. If the diet during the Advent is, according to all the rules, harmful to health, the daily diet should be changed. It is impossible to refuse the necessary food. The decision to start a fast or refuse it should be agreed with your doctor. The use of prohibited foods is replenished with pure sincere prayers addressed to God.

Pregnant women and small children should not fast. For them, the only ban is established - on the use of meat. Dairy products and eggs are allowed. Children learn to fast gradually. The first restrictions begin from the moment when the child already knows and understands why it is important to abstain from this or that food. Concessions are also made for travelers on the road, people engaged in hard physical labor, and those who suffer from certain diseases. But before you start eating fast food, it is strongly recommended to take the blessing of your spiritual father for this.

Fasting is not a diet!

Fasting times are often used to lose weight. Especially popular in this sense is Great Lent, the menu of which consists only of plant foods. In fact, giving up meat and dairy rarely results in weight loss. More often there is some increase in body weight due to the high content of carbohydrates in food. Nutrition during fasting should be balanced so that there are no health problems. It is very difficult for a person who fasts for the first time to fulfill all church prescriptions. Therefore, you need to prepare for fasting fasts in advance, and not when the Christmas fast begins. The most important thing is to remember that spiritual cleansing is much more important than physical cleansing.

Wake theme I still don't want to let go. More recently, I wrote two articles about this - about the organization and holding of Godinas, and about Muslim funeral traditions. These materials were read by several of my acquaintances and started a discussion with me.

One of them is a lady in a respectable age - condemned me for what I write a lot about food and little about the spiritual component of memorial events (although I don’t think so myself). A few more people reproached for the omission: I did not say anything about commemoration during Lent . This accusation is indeed true.. And now it's time to correct the oversight. I was spurred on to this by another incident that happened at the wake my cousin aunt. They took place recently in recently passed Christmas fast , and were, to put it mildly, spoiled due to the shortsightedness of their organizers.

Features of the organization and design of the memorial tablein fast(what kindcanput dishes that are not allowed, how to behave at the table)

The fact is that my relatives on my father's side are not too religious and, in principle, do not bother about fasting. They don't seem to really know when those posts happen. And shortly before the New Year, the fortieths of our aunt happened - the mother of cousins ​​just on the paternal side. The first commemoration (at which I was also, of course) passed quietly and peacefully in a small cafe and with the participation of only the closest. And in this case, everything turned out less idyllic.

As I already noticed the case took place during post, and evenWednesday. A lot of people came, since Aunt Valya was a famous person in certain circles. She served for many years in conservatory - sang. And on the the fortieth gathered, in addition to relatives, her former colleagues and even some fans. The table was laid traditionally for a funeral, but not for Lenten. This is what caused the misunderstanding. Many of my aunt's girlfriends and co-workers, as it turned out, became very religious and now sing in church choirs. At first, they just sat very dissatisfied, did not eat anything and looked at each other indignantly. But when relatives began to talk about the deceased "with vodka", a real scandal almost occurred. Ladies began to express dissatisfaction already in open. Then they got up, read and sang the 17th kathisma and left together. My relatives were embarrassed, and the commemoration was crumpled.

Then my brothers and their wives scolded the old women very much, who dared to protest so defiantly against what was happening. To be honest, I didn't argue with them. What for? They would be, irritated and offended, at that moment I still didn’t in than not convinced. But in fact, I do not agree with their position at the root. Indeed, when preparing such a complex and delicate ritual event, you need to think through everything properly. If a commemorations are held in Lent and onbelievers are invited to them, and even more so church people, then both the table and the regulations should correspond to the situation. The fact that the organizers themselves are far from Orthodox traditions does not exempt them from the need to respect other people's beliefs and ethical feelings.

Psychologycommemorationhas always been closely associated with their religious significance


At first, they were escorted off to pay their respects to the departing in another world for the dead. Memorial events, which are customary to organize not only in Russia, but also in most other countries, are of ancient pagan origin. And the pagans have always attached a mystical and ritual significance to the joint meal. It was believed that at funeral feasts the dead eat and drink together with the living, which is why the feast has always been the center of any commemoration. In our time, their dead are commemorated partly simply by custom, and partly in order to gather at the table everyone who was close to the deceased. It is important for relatives that people say good words about him, regret his departure. For many, this relieves grief, helps to relieve the terrible emotional stress caused by death. Modern world religions say thatwhatit is necessary to commemorate the dead with prayer and alms, and not with food or (even more so!) Drink. It is important for the departed soul that the living repent from the Lord of all the voluntary or involuntary sins of the deceased. But not one of the religions imposes a direct ban on memorial tables, so this tradition continues to exist.

People remember their dead including in posts . At the same time, as life shows, to the organization commemoration in fast days, and even more so in period of long posts must be approached with particular care. If the family that arranges such meals is not religious, but in In memorial events, the participation of believers is supposed, then it will be just a good form to think about their feelings. Well, Christians should not forget about the requirements post . Otherwise modest commemoration you can not only not help the soul of the deceased (for which, in theory, everything is started), but also harm it.

MeaningP
osta inChristian culture very large. Fastis, first of all, abstinence, which we perform in the name of Jesus Christ. This is how we sacrifice our bodily pleasures in benefit of the spiritual life. Most people perceive this time in first of all, as the need for a temporary refusal of certain types of food and drink. AT basically, from meat, dairy, fat, from all kinds of luxurious dishes. And of course, from alcohol. The list of undesirable products varies from person to person. For example, the sick, pregnant women, children and people who are associated with great physical exertion in life do not fast at all or limit themselves partially. However, in a post it is not enough just not to eat fast. John of Damascus once rightly remarked, what in that case, all cows would be holy. And one of my friends wisely said, what a post many perceive it only as “tasting the sacred potato” and at the same time they sin worse than unbelievers: they swear, take pride, condemn everyone around. Actually, in addition to physical abstinence, prayer and spiritual perfection are very important.

Christianpoststhere are:

One day is

  • every Wednesday and Friday (days of betrayal and crucifixion of the Savior);
  • Epiphany Christmas Eve;
  • the day of the beheading of John the Baptist;
  • feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

multi-day posts four:

Of course, the severity post may vary individually. The clergy themselves say that in faith, everyone should take on a feasible burden. Fanaticism and excess never lead to anything good.

Here I had inlife case, opposite of what I described at the beginning. AT I lived as a student on the grandmother's apartment. She was very pious, constantly went in church, read the Bible, prayers. And fasted, of course. And she tried to adhere to the monastic post - with a raw food diet and all other strict restrictions. At the same time, Baba Shura was a big lover of food, and after the end of the lenten period, she simply pounced on eggs and meat. It came to the hospital, as the senile body was shocked by such drastic changes. in nutrition. And then one day she went for a wake at about middle of some post (I think Petrova). The table there was modest, seductive, and grandmother could not resist. She ate so hungry what The case ended with an operation for the gallbladder. Which she safely cut out.

It's me that in everything there should be a measure. And memorial table during posts, even in Wednesday and Friday, it is not necessary to make it very meager. It is not forbidden to remember and in Great Lent, only the 9th, 40th days and years from weekdays are better transferred toweekend. And if the day of the funeral came on the Wednesday or Friday then on the the table is served according to the rules of any vegetable food without any oil. But in our rather abundant food times can worthy to get out of this difficult situation.

Menuleancommemoration

can be surprisingly varied. Moreover, the main traditional dishes and in In this case, they remain the same, only they are prepared without the use of animal products.

  1. Kutya. They say, what this dish has greek
    origin, and the word itself is translated as "boiled wheat."     AT Ancient Greek porridge ( in mostly barley) with fruit was dedicated to the deceased ancestors. BUT in Christian Byzantium, she began to be consecrated in temples. There she was calledkoliba, which corresponds to our other name for kutya -kolivo. There are other names of food: kanun, saty and juicy. It is made from boiled rice, wheat, barley. AT honey water, raisins, sometimes poppy seeds and nuts are added to the porridge. The grains themselves - the basis of kutia - symbolize rebirth, immortality. Sweetness and various tasty additives in it is a sign of the goodness of eternal life on the Heaven. Such kutya is consecrated in the church, any memorial meal begins with it.
  2. Pancakes and fritters cooked without eggs on the water. They are considered symbols of the sun, dying in the evening and resurrecting at dawn. They are eaten after kutya. On the a lean table is good to serve for this rosette with honey.
  3. Taken at our wake first meal also very helpful in post . You can cook or order borsch with beans, noodles on vegetable broth, stew of cereals and potatoes. It is believed that the steam from the hot helps the soul to rise into the sky.
  4. On the the second is served different cereals with vegetable oil or salads from beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, etc. Kashi, like kutya, are associated with the eternity of being. And from the gastronomic point of view, they diversify the table. Can cook porridge from buckwheat, pearl barley, the same rice, etc. The main thing - on the water.
  5. In post often fish is also allowed. It is prepared for such commemoration fried, baked. They serve herring and salads with it (the same under a fur coat with lean mayonnaise), sprats and other canned food, fish pies. In Greek, the name of the fish isichthyos. After the advent of Christianity, the word immediately began to be perceived as an abbreviation in which the name of Jesus is encoded. But the fish itself in The early period of the development of religion was closely connected with the symbolism of the savior. So on the At Christian tables, fish dishes began to be considered a sign of the Christian faith.
  6. AT funeral pies except fish stuffing
    , you can put rice, buckwheat, beans, sorrel with honey, potatoes, cabbage, carrots. There are a lot of lean fillings, and flour stuffing on the Russian funeral table has always been traditional.
  7. In addition to these dishes, the table is set different vegetable salads and cuts, fried and salted (marinated) mushrooms, others pickles. and fruits: bananas, citrus fruits, apples. Just do not overdo it with pickles: fasting is not the time for gluttony.

AT traditional drinks are served kvass, compote, kissel, honey water. For those who wish can stock up on mineral water, soda and purchased juices. Regarding alcoholic beverages, there are discrepancies. Some argue (and to some extent they are right) that on some fasting days when wine is allowed at the wake you can drink alcohol. However, the Church herself believes that it is not at all necessary to do this, so as not to turn everything in ordinary worldly feast. A particularly strict ban on the this is the thing the priests impose in Great Lent.

Behavioron thememorial events

in Fast days are almost the same as how you should behave in such cases in general. That is at the table cheerful conversations and generally loud conversation and communication are unacceptable on theextraneous topics. Clothing for those who came should be calm, preferably dark tones. Dressing up somehow in a special way is both a bad taste and a violation of customs.. It is advisable for women not to put noticeable makeup on their faces. It is better, of course, not to paint at all. And don't come to the wake of the uninvited.


It is considered important to order servicesinchurches.In particular, 40 liturgies. Very good to apply for this in different monasteries, as they have daily services. Many order the annual reading of the church Psalter. And of course, they put funeral candles and pray - and in temple and at home. And they give alms.Churched people in general in fasting are limited only to church commemoration, and civil feasts are considered completely superfluous.

I think it makes sense. After all, the main thing for the soul is prayer, the repentance of its sins. But still, there is something in general feast. Unless, of course, food and, most importantly, drinking do not become the main reason for the meeting for the audience. After a good, proper commemoration, there is a feeling that the soul is “let go”. And grief is alleviated. And came humility, understanding of the inevitable. Juston fast days you canmake the feast time shorter, avoid speeches that are too long, try not to make parting words look like toasts - how it happened on the memorial evening at my cousins. Try to combine the strict spirituality of faith and the canon and the sincere sincerity of people who loved the departed and therefore came here. This will probably be the closest thing to the ideal.

Today, restaurants provide a special lenten menu for those who fast. However, to what extent would such food be appropriate during fasting?

Indeed, in reality, the entire content of such a menu is nothing more than fast food, however, without the content of animal products. But where and why did this label come from?

Modesty foods are products of animal origin, such as meat, milk, cheese, eggs, for example, - everything that is not allowed to be eaten during fasting. Fish and seafood do not belong to the list of fast foods, but when the time of Great Lent begins, for example, these foods are not allowed.

However, all restrictions depend on which fast is observed at the present time. So, on the eve of Christmas and in the first week after the Trinity, it is forbidden to eat fish and vegetable oils on Wednesdays and Fridays, because this food is also considered modest. After the start of Lent, the consumption of fish and seafood is strictly forbidden, apart from a few non-strict days.

Today, without much difficulty, you can find a replacement for almost any product of animal origin. However, the point of abstinence is not to not eat fast food, but to grow spiritually and improve.

How to eat fast food?

Returning to the question of “meat” food made from plant products, as well as the so-called fasting sweets, we need to find out if it is possible to eat such dishes in fasting and when exactly? By and large, such food cannot be allowed during fasting.

Fasting is a period during which it is necessary not only to forbid oneself to eat fast food, but also to abandon all kinds of temptations. By the way, food that tastes like meat, although its content is not such, is also prohibited during abstinence. So, if you made a decision to refuse fast food based on religious views, then such food will be taboo for you.

In addition, the church says that in some cases fast food can be consumed even during abstinence. Such eating is allowed for children under the age of 14, pregnant women, people who are worried about serious illnesses, and the elderly. They can fish throughout the year.

On Great Lent and Fast Food

Refusing fast food, remember that you will not be able to eat dishes that contain animal products. So, if the bread dough is made with the addition of milk and eggs, then you will not be able to eat such bread for all 40 days that precede Easter.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday allow eating vegetables, fruits, lean bread and compote. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can eat hot without adding oil. In addition, while waiting for Easter, you will have Saturdays, Sundays, as well as church holidays - days when you will be allowed to use vegetable oil. But all sorts of addictions like smoking have to be abandoned, such acts are considered modest.

A few words about fast food

Despite the prohibition of eating food of animal origin, during Lent you are allowed to eat all kinds of hearty dishes made from various cereals, vegetables and fruits. As a first, you can cook soup from sauerkraut or nettle, as well as borscht or vegetable soup. After serving liquid, you can eat squash caviar or stewed beans.

By the way, the range of dishes that are allowed during Lent is very extensive. You can cook dumplings, pilaf with mushrooms, all kinds of cereals. While you are waiting for Easter, you are allowed to eat pastries, but only after you make sure that the dough was cooked without adding eggs and milk.

In addition, such dishes are low in calories, healthy and very nutritious. Such food contains a lot of vitamins and antioxidants, micro and macro elements - everything that our body needs for normal functioning.

It should be noted that in the first week of Great Lent, as well as in the last, when abstinence is the most severe, you will have to limit yourself to the maximum from all kinds of temptations. But on Pure Thursday it is customary to completely refuse food. On the first Friday after fasting begins, you can only eat boiled wheat with honey.

Well, when you finally wait for Easter, then you will have access to a complete culinary expanse. All Christian tables are bursting with marvelous Easter cakes, colored eggs, honey gingerbread and various pastries.

Small disclaimer

By choosing plant-based foods, you lower cholesterol in your body, stimulate the elimination of toxins, and improve bowel health. Therefore, fasting will improve the general condition of a healthy person.

But for those who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes, or are recovering from a serious illness, it is better to refuse a religious diet or, at least, consult a doctor.

What product is alcohol?

Can alcohol be considered a lean product? Let's try to figure it out. It so happened historically that a real culture of drinking was formed in Russia. Therefore, most lovers, in order to wet their throats, are looking for all sorts of tricks to drink wine on a holiday or on Sundays.

But in fact, for every Russian person, the refusal of alcohol will be a more serious sacrifice than the refusal to eat fish. It is for this reason that wine and other alcohol cannot be called a lean product, all this is fast food.

So, taking into account the national love for alcohol, it is wine that will have to be abandoned during Lent.