The Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar on November 28 begin the Nativity Fast that runs for 40 days, until January 7, which is by Christmas. For those who follow the new, Gregorian calendar, the Nativity Fast started on November 14 and will end on December 25, IPN reports.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the fast traditionally entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on the feasts of Saint Andrew and Saint Nicholas.

The parishioners can take communion during the very first week of fasting. The Eve of Nativity (December 24) is a strict fast day on which no solid food should be eaten until the first star is seen in the evening sky.

By this fasting period, the faithful also remember the Massacre of the Innocents, which is the biblical account of infanticide by Herod the Great, the Roman-appointed King of the Jews. It is said that Herod ordered the execution of all male children younger than two in the vicinity of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi.

There are four fasting periods during the year, namely Great Lent, the Apostles’ Fast, the Nativity Fast and the Dormition Fast.