The term collation refers to one or two light meals allowed on days of fasting, especially in Western Christianity. It originally derives from the rule dating from the mid-6th century AD in Benedictine monasteries, that the usual evening meal was to be followed by the reading of excerpts from Collationes patrum in Scetica eremo written by John Cassian in around 420. However, according to the strict Rule of Saint Benedict, on days of fasting there would be no evening meal: Vespers was directly followed by the readings from the Collationes or the Lives of the Fathers, and then Compline. By the 9th century AD the strict rules about fasting in Western Christianity became more relaxed, following the lead of e.g. Thomas Aquinas, and it became allowed to have a light evening snack or 'collation' on fast days. This grew to apply to the indulgence of two small meals allowed on days of fasting, with or without abstinence. Historically, an evening collation was leniently defined by the Catholic Church as being less than eight ounces of food, and even a single "hearty meal" at lunchtime is allowed when fasting. The traditional Black Fast of Western Christianity, which was broken after sunset, did not permit a collation if strictly observed. After the 14th century AD, taking a collation became a part of Christian fasting practices in many localities. Today, on Christian fasting days of Lent, the Catholic Church prescribes "one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal". Similarly, an Evangelical Lutheran publication delineating fasting guidelines states that "On fasting days, two ¼ meals are eaten, and one regular meal in the evening". The Traditional Saint Augustine's Prayer Book: A Book of Devotion for Members of the Anglican Communion defines "Fasting, usually meaning not more than a light breakfast, one full meal, and one half meal, on the forty days of Lent."
Other uses
The French court of Louis XIV used the term collation to refer to light meals in general. In British English today, a collation is likewise a light meal, offered to guests when there is insufficient time for fuller entertainment. It is often rendered cold collation in reference to the usual lack of hot or cooked food. The Polish wordkolacja is a derivation. In modern Italian, the two small meals are the prima colazione and seconda colazione. The word "colazione" itself in the general language now means "breakfast".
