Why do we fast from midnight?

[Alex Haig]

Why do so many traditions take fasting before communion from midnight to be the norm when the day starts at sunset?

With love in Christ

Alex

[Herman Blaydoe]

Because they are two different things? This particular rule for fasting (from midnight) generally applies to preparing for communion in the morning. And it is not necessarily sunset that determines the Liturgical day, but Vespers. Some rules do prescribe fasting from Vespers until communion, but generally not in parishes.

For Lent, many monasteries and strict observers will fast from sunrise to sunset, but it depends to some extent on local custom.