In the Roman Catholic tradition, you cannot eat meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent.

When meat is not allowed

  • Ash Wednesday – No meat; also a day of fasting (one main meal, two smaller ones) for ages 18–59.
  • All Fridays of Lent – Abstinence from meat for Catholics age 14 and up; fish and other non‑meat foods are allowed.
  • Good Friday – No meat, and fasting rules apply as on Ash Wednesday.

When meat is allowed

  • Weekdays other than Fridays – Meat is generally permitted, unless someone has taken a personal vow to abstain for the whole season.
  • Sundays – Sundays are not “penitential” days, so meat is allowed even though they fall within Lent.

Quick‑reference table (Catholic practice)

Day / period| Meat allowed?| Notes
---|---|---
Ash Wednesday| ❌ No| Abstain from meat; fasting required for ages 18–59. 139
Lenten Fridays| ❌ No| Abstain from meat for age 14+. 359
Good Friday| ❌ No| Abstain from meat; fasting also applies. 139
Other weekdays in Lent| ✅ Yes| Unless you personally choose otherwise. 57
Sundays in Lent| ✅ Yes| Not days of abstinence. 35

Different Christian denominations (Orthodox, Anglican, etc.) may have stricter rules, so many believers check their own church’s guidelines each year.