Ember Days

ember days, in the Western Church, traditionally the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following the first Sunday in Lent; Whitsunday; Sept. 14 (Exaltation of the Cross); and Dec. 13 (St. Lucy's Day). They were days of fasting to sanctify the season, and the ember Saturdays were considered especially appropriate for ordinations. The ember days are of very ancient and uncertain origin. The dates of their celebration are now determined by national hierarchies rather than by the universal Roman liturgical calendar, and they are frequently called "days of prayer for peace."

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ember days

certain days of fasting and prayer occuring in each of the four seasons. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 862]

See : Holy Days and Periods

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Ember Days

Four times a year

The Ember Days occur four times a year, at the beginning of each of the natural seasons. Traditionally they are marked by three days of fasting and abstinence—the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following, respectively, Ash Wednesday, Pentecost (Whitsunday), Exaltation of the Cross, and St. Lucy's Day. In 1966, the Roman Catholic Church replaced them with days of prayer for various needs and withdrew the obligation to fast. The Anglican Communion still observes them. The four weeks in which these days occur are called Ember Weeks, and the Friday in each of these weeks is known as Golden Friday . The word "ember" itself derives from an Old English word referring to the revolution of time.
Some scholars believe that the Ember Days originated with the old pagan purification rites that took place at the seasons of planting, harvest, and vintage. The idea of fasting on these days was instituted by Pope Calixtus I in the third century. By the ninth century it was observed throughout Europe, but it wasn't until 1095 that the dates were fixed. In the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, since the sixth century, priests have been ordained on an Ember Saturday.

SOURCES:
BkDays-1864, vol. II, p. 687
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 163
DictDays-1988, p. 48
DictWrldRel-1989, p. 237
OxYear-1999, p. 600
RelHolCal-2004, p. 83
SaintFestCh-1904, p. 253