Arab Christians consume falafel as part of the Lent diet.
Lent is the major Christian season of preparation before Easter. Many Christian traditions call for abstaining from meat and, depending on the denomination, other animal products during some or all of the season. Falafel’s plant-based ingredients make it a practical and filling choice during this period.
In Arab Christian communities, falafel may be eaten as a regular meal or alongside salads, pickles, flatbread, and tahini. Its ingredients vary by region: Egyptian falafel generally uses fava beans, while Levantine versions more often use chickpeas or a mixture of legumes.
This answer should not be confused with Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Falafel is also eaten during Ramadan, especially at iftar, the meal that breaks the fast after sunset, but the question’s reference to Arab Christians points to Lent. Advent, Epiphany, and Pentecost are Christian observances, yet none is the specific fasting season identified here.