Christians around the world will again be celebrating Lent from March to April this year.
While many non-believers associate this time with giving something up, for the church it is seen as vital spiritual preparation when they grow closer to God ahead of Easter.
However, there are subtle differences in the way this time of year is celebrated between the many denominations of Christianity.
From the meaning behind the day to the various start and finishing dates, here’s everything you need to know about Lent and its various traditions.
What is Lent?
In the Christian calendar, Lent is treated as a period of reflection and getting closer to God when people fast from food and festivities.
It lasts for 40 days in the run-up to Easter (which this year falls on April 12) and symbolises the last few weeks before Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection which included 40 days and nights alone in the Judean Desert where he was tempted by Satan.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with the day before – Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Day) – being a time when people across Europe have used up foods that have been traditionally forbidden during Lent. These include milk, eggs, sugar and fat, which were used to make pancakes so as to avoid them going to waste.
Ideas on what to give up
1. Chocolate: The classic suggestion that is often near the top of any list when Lent comes around. Giving up your favourite chocolate or sweets will make them even more enjoyable once Easter arrives.
2. Alcohol: Another popular suggestion. Not only is it a good challenge there are several health benefits too including better sleep, no hangovers, improved skin and reducing the risk of heart and liver problems.
3. Social media: Glued to your phone? Can’t get enough of scrolling through Instagram or Facebook? Giving up social media for Lent could help your mental health as you stay away from the never-ending stream of posts. If social media as a whole feels like a step too far then maybe try and resist the temptation of your favourite app.
4. Binge-watching TV: If you’re someone who loves to sit down and devour an entire series on Netflix in an evening or two, then giving that up could be worth a go. With the evenings getting longer through Lent there will be plenty of other opportunities to do things outside. Alternatively, you could read more books during the evening or spend time volunteering at a charity.
5. Swearing: There are countless moments every day where the temptation to swear can be too much, whether it’s being delayed, accidentally hurting yourself or spilling a drink. Lent can be a time to find other ways to express yourself and stop turning the air blue.
When does Lent begin?
The dates for Easter, and subsequently Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Shrove Tuesday vary from year to year. However, the date normally falls between mid-February and early March.
In 2022 Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent after Shrove Tuesday, falls on March 2 for Western churches.
For the Eastern Orthodox churches, the first day of Lent is Clean Monday which this year falls on March 7.
When does Lent finish?
While the start of Lent is easy to define, the end of the celebrations is more complicated.
In Western churches, it ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter itself. This year that’s on April 23.
In the liturgical season, Lent ends two days earlier on Maundy Thursday, while for Eastern churches it ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter).
Which days are excluded from Lent?
Lent is 40 days, however, the six Sundays that fall within the period are not included meaning there are 46 days between the first day of Lent and the last.
The six Sundays aren’t counted because they’re each seen as a “mini-Easter” celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin and death.
What do people give up?
Many Christians tend to give up something to “purify” them, which includes a wide variety of foods and forms of entertainment.
Adults tend to give up things such as alcohol, coffee or smoking while children may refrain from eating chocolate, sweets or playing with certain toys.
Others use Lent to volunteer or donate money to charity.
Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day
Shrove Tuesday – more commonly known as Pancake Day – is on March 1 this year.
The word shrove comes from “shrive” which means absolution for sins by doing penance with the day’s full name getting its name from Christians trying to be ‘shriven’ before Lent.
The association with pancakes came as worshippers used up rich foods such as eggs, milk and sugar before the Lent fast which begins the following day.
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday and is said to be a day to cleanse the soul with a cross marked on churchgoers’ foreheads using ash.
These crosses symbolise repentance for sin and are made from palm crosses from the previous year’s Palm Sunday which are burned for Ash Wednesday.
It is also said to be a reminder that death comes to everyone.