Coptic Lent : Rules?

Rules
In some places, believers abstained from food for an entire day; others took only one meal each day, while others abstained from all food until 3 o'clock. In most places, however, the practice was to abstain from eating until the evening.


General rules

According to the Coptic tradition of fasting periods, the diet is mainly vegan, cooked with either oil or water. No animal products (meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, butter, etc.) are allowed and naturally any product containing any of their derivatives, for example biscuit which may contain butter or casserole which may contain chicken stock etc ...

Strict abstinence

A strict abstinence period, where no food or drink whatsoever may be taken, is encouraged for those who can endure it. The original tradition of the Church is for this period of abstinence to begin at midnight and last through sunset. Those who cannot endure this length of fast are still encouraged to strictly abstain from all types of food and drink between midnight and a certain time in the day, depending on each individual's strength and spiritual needs (this is usually based on the suggestion of the person's father of confession). For many parishioners, fasting is more likely to end at noon (the hour when Christ was placed on the Cross) or three o'clock on the afternoon (the hour when Christ died on the Cross). Strict abstinence is also expected to be kept on Great Friday  between midnight and the end of the Great Friday prayers (usually around 6pm).

Permissibles

It is also to be noted that fish (all sea food) is permissible during the Advent fast and during the Apostles's Fast, except on Wednesdays and Fridays of these fasts. Lent and the Holy Week fasts are stricter than the other fasts in their discipline. Those who wish to take a vow of strict discipline for the fast of the Virgin Mary may also do so.

Regarding the Fast of the Paramon of the Feasts of the Nativity and of Theophany 

• If the Feast day falls on a Sunday, the Paramon fasting day is substituted by the Friday before, since Saturday is a non-fasting day.
• If the Feast falls on a Monday, then the Paramon fasting day is also substituted with the Friday before, excluding Saturday and Sunday as fasting days of the Paramon.
• The Paramon Fasts of both Feasts are considered as the two days preceding Sunday if they fall on that day with Friday as the only Paramon fasting day.
• The same rule apply when either of the two Feasts falls on a Monday. The Paramon is the three days that precede it, with Friday as the only Fasting day. Here is the only exception where a third previous day is counted.
• If the Feast day falls on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, then the Paramon Fast days are the two day that precede them following the rule of the two days before the Feast day.

Non-fasting periods

There are 7 weeks during the year where there is no fasting even on Wednesday and Friday. These are the 7 weeks between Easter and Pentecost. These 7 weeks are fast-free because this period is a period of joy for Christians in celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.

Fasting observance before partaking of the Holy Communion

Copts who expect to receive communion of the Eucharist on a certain day do not eat or drink at all during the nine hours preceding the partaking of the communion or from midnight of the previous night, whichever is longer.

Canonical observance

Strict fasting is canonically forbidden on Saturdays and Sundays due to the festal character of the Sabbath and Resurrectional observances respectively. Holy (Bright) Saturday is the only Saturday of the year where a strict fast is kept.

Principle of piety

It is considered a greater sin to advertise one's fasting than to not participate in the fast. Fasting is a purely personal communication between the Orthodox Christian and God, and in fact has no place whatsoever in the public life of Coptic Church. If one has responsibilities that cannot be fulfilled because of fasting, then it is perfectly permissible not to fast.

Exceptions

These strict fasting rules are usually relaxed by priests on an individual basis to accommodate for illness or weakness. Abstinence from sexual intercourse is also encouraged but not mandatory, and largely depends on the decision of each couple. The Copts fasting periods are designed to foster spiritual development and focus on  liturgical practices.

Fasting is not generally viewed as a hardship, but rather a privilege and joy in preparing for the coming “Feast Day”.