Fasting and abstinence in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Fasting and abstinence ( "ṣōm"; Amharic: "tsom") have historically constituted a major element of the practice of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, following the counsel of Saint Paul (; "k’idus p’awilos") to "chastise the body and bring it under subjection" per 1 Corinthians 9:27. It is generally agreed, and asserted by the Church itself, that the fasting regime of the Ethiopian Church is the strictest of any Church, with 180 mandatory fasting days for laymen and up to 252 days for clergy and the particularly observant. The general list of fasts are laid out in the Fetha Negest.
Fasting regimen.
During fasts, the observant are required to partake in no more than one meal a day, which is to be eaten in the afternoon or evening. Fasting involves abstention from animal products (meat, dairy, and eggs), and refraining from eating or drinking before 3:00 pm. Ethiopian devotees may also abstain from sexual activity and the consumption of alcohol.
Foods.
As the fasting regimen prohibits the consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs, Ethiopian cuisine contains many dishes that can be considered vegan. Legumes such as split peas ("ክክ", "kək" or "kikki") and lentils ("ምስር", "məsər" or "birsin"); or vegetables such as potatoes ("ድንች", "Dənəch"), carrots and chard (ቆስጣ) are common in fasting dishes. Shiro wat (), made from ground chickpeas, is also particularly popular as a fasting food.
As international cuisines have grown in popularity among the Ethiopian middle class, fasting variants have also developed to meet the needs of the observant population—among which include fasting pizza, fasting pasta, fasting pastries, and fasting (meatless) burgers. Another example of Western influence is the popularity of fish goulash (; "asa gulaš"), often made with local Nile perch, tilapia, or catfish.
Observance.
Observance of the fasting periods have fluctuated with time. Today, religious groups like Mahibere Kidusan encourage the faithful to rigorously observe both obligatory and optional fasting periods. As a result, strict observance of fasts is said to be growing in certain Orthodox communities.
List of fasts.
Ordinary fasts.
Every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year are observed as fast days, Wednesday in observance of the decision of the Sanhedrin, in collaboration with Judas Iscariot, to betray and kill Jesus before the feast of Pesach, and Friday in observance of the Passion of Jesus.
Seven Official Canonical Fasts.
Fasts are observed on the following occasions:
Optional fasts.
Many faithful also observe optional fasts that are not included in the official and canonical list of mandatory fasts. These include ጽጌ ጾም (the Fast of the Flowers) which commemorates the exile of the Holy Family in Egypt, and the fast of Puagumen (Ethiopia’s thirteenth month of 5 days or 6 days in leap years) in preparation for Ethiopian New Year on Meskerem 1.