Meal plan
Nativity Fast Meal Plan 2026: 40 Days of Greek Fasting Food
In short
The Nativity Fast runs for 40 days, from 15 November to Christmas Eve. This plan gives one main meal for each day, matched to the rules most Greek households keep: fish on most days until 17 December, then oil and wine only, and no oil at all on Wednesdays, Fridays and Christmas Eve.
Fish, oil, wine 24 days. Fish, olive oil and wine are all allowed.
Oil and wine 4 days. No fish, though octopus, squid and shellfish are fine.
No oil, no wine 12 days. Wednesdays, Fridays and Christmas Eve. Cooked without olive oil or wine.
How the plan works
There is one main meal for every day of the fast, 40 in all. Each day is marked with what it allows, so you can see at a glance whether it is a fish day, an oil day or a day without oil.
The slow dishes fall at the weekend, when there is time for them. Weekdays get pots that stretch to a second night, and the plan says when a meal is the leftovers of the day before. Cook the big pot when you have the time, and let it carry the busy nights.
When a dish needs beans, chickpeas or salt cod soaked ahead, the plan tells you the day before, or two days before for salt cod. Every dish links to a full recipe on this site, and where a recipe is normally made with olive oil and the day does not allow it, the plan says exactly what to leave out.
The rules of the Nativity Fast
The fast begins on 15 November and ends on Christmas Eve. Meat, dairy and eggs are set aside for all 40 days. What changes from day to day is fish, olive oil and wine.
From 15 November to 17 December, fish, oil and wine are allowed on every day except Wednesdays and Fridays. From 18 December to Christmas Eve, fish stops, and oil and wine are allowed on the same days as before.
Wednesdays and Fridays are kept without oil or wine all the way through. So is Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday, as it does this year, on a Thursday.
Two exceptions are worth knowing. The Entry of the Theotokos on 21 November allows fish even when it falls midweek. And octopus, squid, cuttlefish and shellfish have no backbone, so they are not counted as fish and stay on the table after 17 December.
Honey, tahini, olives, nuts, bread and pulses are allowed throughout. Families and parishes keep the fast in different ways, and many keep it more gently than this. If your priest or your family does it differently, follow them.
Week 1: 15 to 21 November
Bake this week Vegan Olive Oil Cookies. A tin of these lasts the week. Not for the no-oil days.
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Sun15Nov
Baked Fish with Vegetables Ψάρι πλακί
With Horta
The first day falls on a Sunday this year, so the fast opens with fish.
Tonight: put the beans to soak for tomorrow's Fasolada.
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Mon16Nov
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Tue17Nov
Leftovers Fasolada Φασολάδα
With Fish Roe Dip
Feta is off the table for six weeks. On fish days, taramosalata takes its place.
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Wed18Nov
Cypriot Dried Pea Soup Λουβάνα
With Cypriot Pickled Cauliflower and Turnip
Without oil: Leave off the olive oil at the end and squeeze in more lemon.
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Thu19Nov
Spanakorizo Σπανακόρυζο
With Grated Carrot Salad
Spinach is at its best in the cold months.
Tonight: put the salt cod to soak for Saturday's Northern Greek Cod with Leeks.
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Fri20Nov
Lentil Soup with Vinegar Φακές
With Pickled Aubergine
Without oil: Leave out the oil. Skip step 2 and add the onions, garlic and carrots to the pot with the lentils at step 3, and leave the feta off the table. The vinegar does the rest.
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Sat21Nov
Northern Greek Cod with Leeks Μπακαλιάρος με πράσα
With Constantinople-Style Cabbage Slaw
A feast day, and one that allows fish even when it falls midweek.
Week 2: 22 to 28 November
Bake this week Quince Spoon Sweet. Quinces are in season now, and a sealed jar keeps for months.
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Sun22Nov
Cycladic Octopus Braised in Wine Χταπόδι κρασάτο
It braises on its own for about an hour, which suits a Sunday.
Tonight: put the beans to soak for tomorrow's Baked Giant Beans in Tomato.
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Mon23Nov
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Tue24Nov
Leftovers Baked Giant Beans in Tomato Γίγαντες πλακί
With Horta
Tonight: put the chickpeas to soak for tomorrow's Plain Chickpea Soup.
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Wed25Nov
Plain Chickpea Soup Ρεβιθόσουπα
With Cypriot Pickled Cauliflower and Turnip
Without oil: Leave the oil out of the pot and off the top, and use more lemon.
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Thu26Nov
Whole Baked Sea Bream Τσιπούρα ψητή
With Oven Roasted Potatoes with Oregano
The recipe is for two fish. Buy one per person.
Tonight: put the beans to soak for tomorrow's Fasolada.
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Fri27Nov
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Sat28Nov
Cypriot Pumpkin and Bulgur Pasties Κολοκωτές
With Corfu Spicy Sauteed Greens
A Saturday bake. Pumpkin is cheap and good now.
Tonight: put the chickpeas to soak for tomorrow's Sifnos Sunday Chickpea Bake.
Tonight: put the salt cod to soak for Monday's Baked Salt Cod in Tomato Sauce.
Week 3: 29 November to 5 December
Bake this week Sesame and Honey Bars. Sesame and honey, nothing else that matters.
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Sun29Nov
Sifnos Sunday Chickpea Bake Ρεβιθάδα
Put it in the oven first thing. It bakes low for six to eight hours.
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Mon30Nov
Baked Salt Cod in Tomato Sauce Μπακαλιάρος πλακί
With Horta
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Tue1Dec
Leek and Rice Πρασόρυζο
With Constantinople-Style Cabbage Slaw
Leeks are in season, and this is one pan.
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Wed2Dec
Lentil Soup with Vinegar Φακές
With Cypriot Pickled Cauliflower and Turnip
Without oil: Leave out the oil. Skip step 2 and add the onions, garlic and carrots to the pot with the lentils at step 3, and leave the feta off the table. The vinegar does the rest.
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Thu3Dec
Cuttlefish Braised in Wine Σουπιές κρασάτες
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Fri4Dec
Cypriot Dried Pea Soup Λουβάνα
With Pickled Aubergine
Without oil: Leave off the olive oil at the end and squeeze in more lemon.
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Sat5Dec
Epirus Wild Greens Pie Μπλατσαριά
With Grated Carrot Salad
A Saturday job: a pie of whatever greens you can find.
Week 4: 6 to 12 December
Bake this week Melomakarona. The first of the Christmas baking. They keep for three weeks in a tin. Not for the no-oil days.
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Sun6Dec
Fisherman's Soup Κακαβιά
The saint of fishermen gets a fisherman's soup.
Tonight: put the salt cod to soak for Tuesday's Fried Salt Cod with Garlic Dip.
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Mon7Dec
Lentils and Rice Φακόρυζο
With Corfu Spicy Sauteed Greens
Vinegar on the table, as with any lentils.
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Tue8Dec
Fried Salt Cod with Garlic Dip Μπακαλιάρος σκορδαλιά
With Constantinople-Style Cabbage Slaw
The skordalia can be made in the morning.
Tonight: put the chickpeas to soak for tomorrow's Plain Chickpea Soup.
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Wed9Dec
Plain Chickpea Soup Ρεβιθόσουπα
With Pickled Aubergine
Without oil: Leave the oil out of the pot and off the top, and use more lemon.
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Thu10Dec
Cypriot Lentils and Rice with Onions Μουτζέντρα
With Grated Carrot Salad
From Cyprus: lentils and rice under a heap of slow-fried onions.
Tonight: put the beans to soak for tomorrow's Fasolada.
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Fri11Dec
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Sat12Dec
Corfu Spicy Fish Stew Μπουρδέτο
With Corfu Spicy Sauteed Greens
A Corfu table for the island's saint.
Week 5: 13 to 19 December
Bake this week Peloponnese Dried Fig and Walnut Bars. Figs, walnuts and sesame, pressed into a bar. Not for the no-oil days.
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Sun13Dec
Stuffed Whole Squid Καλαμάρι γεμιστό
With Constantinople-Style Cabbage Slaw
Stuffing squid is fiddly work, and Sunday has the time.
Tonight: put the chickpeas to soak for tomorrow's Chickpeas with Spinach.
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Mon14Dec
Chickpeas with Spinach Ρεβίθια με σπανάκι
With Grated Carrot Salad
Make the full pot. Tuesday is sorted.
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Tue15Dec
Leftovers Chickpeas with Spinach Ρεβίθια με σπανάκι
With Fish Roe Dip
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Wed16Dec
Lentil Soup with Vinegar Φακές
With Cypriot Pickled Cauliflower and Turnip
Without oil: Leave out the oil. Skip step 2 and add the onions, garlic and carrots to the pot with the lentils at step 3, and leave the feta off the table. The vinegar does the rest.
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Thu17Dec
Corfu White Fish Stew Μπιάνκο
With Horta
The last fish day before Christmas. From tomorrow, oil and wine only.
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Fri18Dec
Boiled Vegetables with Lemon Oil Βραστά λαχανικά με λαδολέμονο
With Pickled Aubergine
Without oil: Dress with lemon juice and salt instead of the ladolemono.
No more fish until Christmas Day.
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Sat19Dec
Octopus with Small Pasta Χταπόδι μακαρονάκι
Fish has stopped, but octopus has not.
Tonight: put the beans to soak for tomorrow's Baked Giant Beans in Tomato.
Week 6: 20 to 24 December
Bake this week Halvas Farsalon. Made without oil, so it suits Christmas Eve.
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Sun20Dec
Baked Giant Beans in Tomato Γίγαντες πλακί
With Corfu Spicy Sauteed Greens
Enough for two nights again.
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Mon21Dec
Leftovers Baked Giant Beans in Tomato Γίγαντες πλακί
With Grated Carrot Salad
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Tue22Dec
Spanakorizo Σπανακόρυζο
Tonight: put the chickpeas to soak for tomorrow's Plain Chickpea Soup.
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Wed23Dec
Plain Chickpea Soup Ρεβιθόσουπα
With Cypriot Pickled Cauliflower and Turnip
Without oil: Leave the oil out of the pot and off the top, and use more lemon.
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Thu24Dec
Cypriot Dried Pea Soup Λουβάνα
With Rusk with Honey and Walnuts
Without oil: Leave off the olive oil at the end and squeeze in more lemon.
Keep it simple, with the honey and walnuts to finish. Tomorrow is the feast.
Breakfast and lunch
Breakfast during the fast is bread, rusks, fruit, honey, tahini and olives, much as it always was. A barley rusk with honey and walnuts takes a minute.
Lunch is the place for the leftovers, a bowl of fava, or a salad of lentils, beans or chickpeas, dressed with oil and vinegar on the days that allow it and with lemon alone on the days that do not.
Keeping the fast differently
If your household keeps Wednesdays and Fridays with oil, cook those recipes as written and ignore the notes on what to leave out.
If you are vegan rather than fasting, swap each fish dish for a pulse or vegetable dish from another day. If you are not fasting at all, this is still six weeks of Greek winter cooking, most of it cheap, and most of it better the next day.
Questions people ask
When does the Nativity Fast start and end in 2026?
It starts on Sunday 15 November 2026 and ends on Thursday 24 December, Christmas Eve. That is 40 days, which is why Greeks also call it Sarantaimero, the forty days.
Can you eat fish during the Nativity Fast?
Yes, on most days until 17 December, apart from Wednesdays and Fridays. From 18 December fish is not eaten until Christmas Day, though octopus, squid and shellfish still are.
What do you eat on Wednesdays and Fridays?
Food made without olive oil or wine: pulse soups simmered in water and finished with lemon or vinegar, boiled greens with lemon, pickles, bread, olives, tahini and honey. This plan uses lentil, chickpea, bean and split pea soups cooked without oil.
Is honey allowed during the fast?
Yes. Honey, sugar, tahini, nuts and dried fruit are all allowed, which is why melomakarona, made with oil and honey and no butter, are baked during the fast and not only after it.
What is eaten on Christmas Eve?
When Christmas Eve falls on a weekday it is kept without oil or wine, so the meal is simple: a pot of soup, bread, olives and something sweet made with honey. The cooking is saved for Christmas Day.