Lent is a Christian tradition that is meant for a time of prayer, penance, sacrifice, and preparations for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday (this year it was on February 22) and ends on Holy Thursday, otherwise known as Easter. There is exactly a forty day period between the two. The word lent is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words lencton, meaning “Spring” and lenctentid, which means both “Springtide” and “March.”
For Lent, each Christian is asked to either give up something or add something to their daily life styles. It could be giving up chocolate, candy, pop, coffee, etc., or adding something like exercising, reading the bible, not saying anything rude to someone or everyone, etc. The purpose of lent is to become closer to God and prepare oneself for Easter. It is basically like a New Years Resolution that you actually follow, but for a shorter amount of time. Although, if you give something up for forty days, chances are that you will continue with your same changed routine even after Easter and better yourself because of it.
The “40 days” of lent actually has a spiritual significance. In the Old Testament, Moses went up to Mount Sinai to prepare to receive the Ten Commandments and stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights without any food or water. Elijah also walked 40 days and 40 nights without food or water to Mount Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of the Lord. The most important 40 day significance was when Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert before He began His public ministry.
Lent does not last for exactly 40 days and 40 nights however. It consists of fasting for six days over the course of six weeks. The whole reason for Ash Wednesday was to bring the number of the fasting days to 40. During Lent, Catholics are prohibited from eating all forms of meat and animals, except fish, on Fridays. Other branches of Christianity do not follow this rule.
On Ash Wednesday, Christians go to church and receive a cross on their forehead. The cross is made of ashes and is meant to symbolize that everyone dies on Earth and that we should turn to the Lord. (379)
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