Lent

==== Ethiopian Orthodoxy ====
{{further|Fasting and abstinence in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church{{!}}Fasting in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church}}
In Ethiopian Orthodoxy, fasting (''tsome'') lasts for 55 continuous days before Easter (''[[Fasika]]''), although the fast is divided into three separate periods: Tsome Hirkal, the eight-day Fast of [[Heraclius]], commemorating the fast requested by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Emperor]] [[Heraclius]] before he reputedly set out to fight the [[Sassanian Empire]] and recover the [[True Cross]] which had been seized and taken from Jerusalem; Tsome Arba, 40 days of Lent; and Tsome Himamat, seven days commemorating [[Holy Week]].<ref name="dw2017-03-22">{{Cite news | author=James Jeffrey | title=Ethiopia: fasting for 55 days | url=http://www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-fasting-for-55-days/g-38067533 | publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] | date=22 March 2017 | access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="nenewe">{{Cite web|title=Tsome Nenewe (The Fast of Nineveh) |url=http://www.debreselam.net/index/?p=789 |publisher=Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church |location=[[Minneapolis]] |date=28 January 2015 |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405110705/http://www.debreselam.net/index?p=789 |archive-date= 5 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="arega">{{Cite web | author=Robel Arega | title=Fasting in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church | at=Why Fifty-Five Days? | publisher=Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Sunday School Department – Mahibere Kidusan | url=http://eotcmk.org/site-en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=1 | access-date=30 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331025244/http://eotcmk.org/site-en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=1 | archive-date=31 March 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Fasting involves abstention from animal products (meat, dairy, and eggs), and refraining from eating or drinking before 3:00&nbsp;pm.<ref name="dw2017-03-22" /> Ethiopian devotees may also abstain from sexual activity and the consumption of alcohol.<ref name="dw2017-03-22" />