Ember Days: History, Meaning, Dates, and Traditions

What Are Ember Days?

Ember Days occur four times a year. They coincide with the four seasons and present an opportunity to embrace the practices of prayer, fasting, and abstinence, and for the ordination of clergy to occur. Each set of Ember Days is a way to give thanks for specific natural gifts, such as the increase in daylight and the harvest times of wheat, grapes, and olives.

The word “ember” is thought to be a corruption of the Latin quatuor tempora, meaning “four times.”

When are Ember Days?

There are a total of 12 Ember Days each year. They are observed on the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays following the first Sunday in Lent, Whitsunday-Pentecost, the Feast of the Holy Cross, and the Feast of St. Lucia. While the first Sunday in Lent and Whitsunday-Pentecost change each year based on Easter, the Feast of the Holy Cross and the Feast of St. Lucia are fixed dates, on September 14 and December 13, respectively.

History of Ember Days

It is believed that Ember Days observances date back to the time of Pope Leo I in the 5th century, when observers would thank God for the gifts of nature, embrace those gifts in moderation, and assist the needy. 

Ember Days began in Rome with fasts in June, September, and December, but the days were not fixed. The fourth set of days were added near the end of the 5th century. At that time, the conferring of ordinations was permitted on Ember Saturdays, while previously, the practice was only held at Easter. Pope Gregory VII expanded the observance of Ember Days, making it a large part of the Catholic faith. 

It is said that Ember Days may have been created in response to the excessive celebrations that surrounded the pagan festivals in Rome.

How Are Ember Days Celebrated?

Ember Days can be thought of as a mini-Lent, with some fasting and abstinence to refocus spiritual beliefs.

On Ember Days, observers traditionally fast as they would on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, except that they are allowed to eat meat as part of their main meal on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Ember Days Folklore

Folklore says that the weather on each Ember Day foretells the weather for the next 3 months. For instance, in September, the Wednesday forecasts the weather for October; Friday predicts November; and Saturday foretells December.

Pennsylvania Dutch proverbs and sayings have a deep connection to Ember Days. The following were included in Edwin Fogel’s Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans: 

• Persons born on Ember Days can see ghosts
• Grain will be high in price if the Ember Days come late in the month
• Rain on an Ember Day is followed by 3 weeks of rain
• Washing on an Ember Day is unlucky

An old English rhyme allowed people to remember the occurrence of Ember Days throughout the year:

Fasting days and Emberings be
Lent, Whitsun, Holyrood, and Lucie.

Do you celebrate Ember Days? Have you ever heard of them? Tell us what you think of this celebration.