Those who turned 21 years old before 1966 remember the heavy-duty fasting during Lent. Except for Sundays, if you were 21 and not yet 60 you were allowed..only one full meal a day and two other 'meatless' meals sufficient to maintain strength, together they were not to equal a full meal.
The hardest part was no eating between meals except liquids, which gave rise to the questions such as, "is a malted milk a liquid?" (Some people would stay up late on Saturday night, wating for the clock to strike midnight, then head for the refrigerrator.)
No card parties, showers, dances or other festive events cold be held on parish premises or under parish auspices.
No weddings. In special cases (e.g people in the military who could only get a leave at this time), permisson could be requested of the bishoip to marry during Lent. If granted, the following conditions prevailed in most dioceses, the ceremony was to be private (only the immediate family); no Mass; no publicity; no reception.
Public entertainment (e.g. attending a movie) was to be avoided.
That was the 'old days' today only two days remain for fasting, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fridays continue to be meatless days.