Ok, so for a little clarification (I'm Catholic and went to Catholic schools from K through college)
Really old rules: Fast everyday throughout Lent (except Sundays) and no meat throughout either. This is why Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) was so important, because they had to use up all the food that wouldn't last the 40 days.
Older Rules (pre-Vatican II): No meat throughout Lent (except on Sundays), fast each Friday during lent and Ash Wednesday and abstain from meat on Fridays during the rest of the year.
Current Rules: Fast only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent (though the rest of the year is recommended as well). Also recommend sacrificing in some way during Lent such as giving up something you like (coffee in the morning) or doing something for others (volunteering your Saturdays to a cause).
To recap: most Catholics today will eat fish on Fridays (and Ash Wednesday), "give something up" for Lent (more and more often now it's "doing something" for Lent) and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Phew...
I learned stuff in school
The green vs. orange is interesting. I wore orange on Friday to work, but only because I don't own a dressy green shirt and I was at the end of my wardrobe.. I hadn't heard about the meaning for that... guess i'll have to be more careful next time!
