What religion eats vegetarian between now and Christmas?

I am just curious.  I work with a gentleman who is eating vegetarian basically from now until Christmas.  He said its basically for religious reasons. 

I was curious what religion eats no meat between now and christmas.  I am jewish so I was just not sure.  And I love learning about new religions so I was just wondering but I did not feel comfortable asking him.

I've never heard of that...

I know a lot of people give up meat (or a vice like smoking or drinking) during Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras (40 days prior to Easter Sunday) - but I've never heard anything like that leading up to Christmas....

I'd be interested if anybody else knows too...

My best guess would be some form of eastern spirituality as vegetarianism is often a tenant: hinduism, buddhism, daoism, confucinism. I'd ask-I'm sure he wouldn't mind :)

It could also be a Catholic giving up meat during the Advent season.

I study reli in university, but other than that I can't say . . .

yes I was thinking that it was some form of eastern religion as well.

I did know that people gave up something during lent.  Maybe it is he is giving up meat and that is including chicken and fish and red meat. 

Maybe I will ask.

If it's ending at Christmas, my guess would be either strict Catholic or an orthodox christian religion.

Just out of curiousity - I did find this site which explains the Catholic liturgical traditions.

In the process of elimination it is not linked to Islam.

I was raised Catholic and don't recall any restrictions on diet during Advent.  I can't find any reference to any restriction regarding food.

Eastern religions (except for Eastern Orthodox Catholics) don't celebrate Christmas.

Of course they don't celebrate Christmas, but North America (and the Western world) is a pluralist society. So, for example, a hindu celebrating dawali may leave their lights up for Christmas. I know several people who do this.

People of other religions may not join in the religious aspects of Christmas, but it is part of N.A. culture.

I am Catholic as well and people who practice their faith can choose to commerate Advent, Lent or whatever, any way they want.

Also, E. Orthodox and Islam, for that matter, are considered Western Religions.

It's probably best to ask the person as it may be for a number of different reasons that s/he is doing this.

Coptic Christian, perhaps?  I lived in Egypt and my neighbors were Coptic.  They fasted druing the Advent season, not eating meat.  I think some Coptics do a stricter form of fasting, too.

Orthodox Christian (Eastern Orthodox) - it's the Nativity fast.  Read more at Wiki, if you want.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Fast

Well, you learn something new every day ! Thanks for the information.

there is a religion called jainism (sp?) They are strict vegitarians their whole lives. They are also very strict about when and how food should be eaten. the religion is all about ahimsa (sp?) which is non violence to all living creatures. They only eat when is needed, and will only eat plants, as it is less violent to kill a plant than any other food sorce. The perefered way is if the plant falls to the ground on it's own, much like fruitarianism. 

 I studied this religion in school, and found it very interesting. only 2% of india's population are jains, so it's rarely seen.  I doubt that they are a jain, but I just thought I should post.

what about Seventh-Day Adventists? I remember telling someone I was vegetarian and they asked me if I was an SDA, saying that they mostly adhere to a vegetarian diet.

oooh I've heard of the Jain religion...wow, I could never do that