Below are the guidelines for Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday, February 22nd Laws of Days of Abstinence: Begins on one's 14th birthday. Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. Obliges abstention from flesh meat. Laws of Days of Fast: Applies to everyone aged 18 to 59, inclusive. One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.