Lent is a special time in the church calendar that comes after Epiphany. It’s when they focus on remembering how much God loves them through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose again to defeat death, sin, and evil. During Lent, christians take a serious look at themselves, admitting their mistakes and knowing that they won’t live forever. It’s a time to be sorry for wrongdoings and to remember how much God forgives. As Lent starts, many Christians worldwide follow ancient customs and practices that have been around for thousands of years.
What is Lent?
It is a period of 40 days (excluding Sundays) and is observed by many Christians like Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, and some Protestants. It starts on Ash Wednesday and finishes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.
Lent is a time when Christians think deeply, say sorry for their mistakes, and get ready for Easter, which celebrates Jesus coming back to life. During Lent, Christians might give up something they like, pray more, and think about how Jesus gave up his life for them.
The 40 days of Lent remind people of the time Jesus spent alone in the desert without food. On Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, and people often wear ashes made from last year’s Palm Sunday palms to show they’re starting Lent.
When is Lent in 2024?
Lent starts after Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, and finishes on Ash Wednesday (February 14, which is Valentine’s Day this year). Pancake Day and Ash Wednesday are linked because on Pancake Day, Christians eat the things they’re going to stop eating during Lent.
Lent 2024 goes until Thursday, March 28, with a special evening mass called Holy Thursday. The final week of Lent is Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday. After Lent ends, Easter Sunday begins on March 31 to celebrate Christians believing that Jesus came back to life.
What is Pancake day?
Many churches that follow Lent mark Shrove Tuesday. It’s a day before Ash Wednesday when people traditionally eat pancakes. This helps to use up rich foods like eggs and dairy before Lent, a time of fasting for 40 days. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which means Fat Tuesday in French.
Who observes Lent?
Not all Christian churches follow Lent. It’s mainly observed by Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican denominations, as well as Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches have their own version called Great Lent, which lasts for 6 weeks or 40 days before Palm Sunday. They fast during the Holy Week leading up to Orthodox Easter too.
How do people observe Lent?
People observe Lent in various ways, but some common practices include:
- Fasting: Many individuals fast during Lent, either by abstaining from food altogether for a certain period or by limiting their intake, particularly on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Some may also fast from specific types of food or meals.
- Prayer: Lent is a time for increased prayer and spiritual reflection. People may attend additional church services, participate in prayer groups, or spend more time in personal prayer and meditation.
- Almsgiving: Almsgiving involves acts of charity and generosity toward those in need. During this time, people may donate money, volunteer their time at local charities, or participate in fundraising efforts for humanitarian causes.
- Sacraments: Many Christians use this period as a time to participate in the sacraments of reconciliation (confession) and communion more frequently, seeking forgiveness for their sins and renewing their relationship with God.
- Spiritual reading: Some individuals choose to engage in spiritual activities such as studying the Bible, reading devotional literature, or exploring the lives of saints and spiritual leaders.
- Acts of self-denial: In addition to giving up certain foods or luxuries, people may practice self-denial in other areas of their lives, such as limiting screen time, refraining from gossip or negative speech, or focusing on simplicity and minimalism.
Overall, the observance of Lent is a deeply personal and meaningful journey for many Christians, characterized by repentance, spiritual renewal, and preparation for the celebration of Easter.
What do people give up on Lent?
People often give up something they enjoy or indulge in as a form of sacrifice and self-discipline. This could include things like:
- Sweets and desserts: Many people choose to give up sugary treats or desserts during Lent.
- Meat: Some individuals opt to abstain from eating meat, especially on Fridays, as a sign of penance and solidarity with the less fortunate.
- Alcohol: Abstaining from alcoholic beverages is another common Lenten sacrifice.
- Social media: Many people choose to limit or completely avoid social media platforms during Lent to focus more on spiritual matters.
- Television and entertainment: Some individuals give up watching television or engaging in other forms of entertainment to create more time for prayer and reflection.
- Luxury items: People may choose to refrain from purchasing or using luxury items. Redirecting their resources towards charity and acts of kindness.
During these six weeks, Christians who participate often choose to give up something they enjoy or adopt a new spiritual practice. Some also commit to reading the Bible more and praying often to feel closer to God. The purpose of these practices is to grow stronger in faith and get closer to God through spiritual exercises.
Early Christians recognized the significance of Easter and believed it required special readiness. The idea of a 40-day fasting period before Easter originated from the Canons of Nicaea in AD 325. This practice may have emerged from early Christians preparing for baptism, which took place at Easter after a 40-day period of fasting. Gradually, Lent became a time of spiritual dedication for the entire church. In its early years, Lent involved strict fasting rules that became less stringent as time passed.
Giving something up during this period is about making room for spiritual thinking, development, and closeness with God. It’s vital to pick something that pushes you and aids in growing your faith.
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