What is Lent?
Q: What is Lent?
A: Lent is a period of about six weeks before Easter in the Christian tradition. It is a time for Christians to be quiet and thoughtful, preparing themselves for Easter by praying, giving money to charities and giving up some of the things they might otherwise do for pleasure.
Q: How long does Lent traditionally last?
A: Lent is traditionally supposed to be forty days long. This length comes from the Bible which says that Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, preparing for his death and resurrection.
Q: When does Lent begin?
A: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
Q: When does it end in the Catholic Church?
A: In the Catholic Church, it ends at the Ninth Hour of Maundy Thursday (44 days).
Q: When does it end in The Anglican Catholic Church?
A: In The Anglican Catholic Church, it ends on Holy Saturday (46 days).
Q: How do churches in the Byzantine tradition count the days of Lent differently?
A: Churches in the Byzantine tradition (for example, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic) count the days of Lent differently than other churches. There are also different local traditions in Oriental Orthodox church when counting lenten days.
Q: Is fasting part of traditional observance during lent?
A: Yes, fasting (not eating much) is part of traditional observance during lent as this was useful because it was a time when food which had been kept for winter had to be eaten up before going bad. Many Roman Catholics do not eat meat other than fish on Fridays during lent.
