Between Ash Wednesday and Easter, many Christians observe a 40-day period known as Lent. Even if you’re attended church growing up, many Christians are still curious about the holiday and traditions regarding observing the Lenten season. Lent is meant as a time of repentance. Both Catholics and Protestants participate in some form of fasting and praying during the 40 day period of Lent to honor and remember the suffering of Jesus in the weeks before His death and resurrection.
When Does Lent Start?
Lent this year will begin with Ash Wednesday on March 2, 2022; and if you are following the 40 days in length tradition, Lent will officially end on Holy Saturday, April 16, 2022.
However, in the Catholic tradition the “General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar,” was updated in 1969 to say: “Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive.” The Mass of the Lord’s Supper for Catholics is on Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, which is on April 14, 2022. For those adhering to that tradition, Lent will end on Thursday, April 14th.
The beginning of Lent is marked by many with ashes hence the name Ash Wednesday, which is Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, and Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter Sunday, which is Sunday, April 4 this year.
How Long is Lent?
Lent is 40 days long – ending on the Saturday before Easter. You may be wondering how Lent can be 40 days if Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter? That is because the Lenten fast does not include Sundays, which are considered feast days (a celebration of the resurrection)—so the six Sundays before Easter are omitted from the 40-day observance of fasting.
The last week of Lent is called Holy Week and includes Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday (technically not a fasting day), Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Friday, and Holy Saturday or Black Saturday. Unlike Advent, which is a time of celebration and excitement looking forward to an arrival, Lent is observed in a more solemn way preparing for and reflecting on Jesus’ sacrificial death. But at the end of Lent is Easter Sunday, and that is the most joyous celebration because our Savior Jesus Christ was resurrected and lives on. Because of his death and resurrection, we are offered new life to live as covenant children in the kingdom of God forever. (see: Is Lent Really 40 Days Long?)
Important Dates of Lent in 2022:
| Important Dates of Lent | Brief Overview of Significance | 2022 Dates |
| Palm Sunday | Celebrates Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem | April 10, 2022 |
| Holy Week | The week leading up to Easter | April 10 – April 16, 2022 |
| Maundy Thursday | Commemorates the foot washing and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles | April 14, 2022 |
| Good Friday | Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary | April 15, 2022 |
| Holy Saturday | Commemorates Jesus’ body resting in the tomb | April 16, 2022 |
| Easter Sunday | Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and his victory over sin and death. | April 17, 2022 |
When Does Lent End?
Lent ends 46 days after it begins – on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Easter is a floating holiday that is based on the spring full moon. The first Sunday after the full moon, or spring equinox, This year, the first full moon in spring will happen on March 20, which puts Easter on Sunday, April 17th. 46 days before April 17th would then give us the first day of Lent – Ash Wednesday – on March 2!
What Does the Word ‘Lent’ Mean?
Lent is a shortened version of the Old English word ‘lencten’, which means spring or springtime the season. It is believed to have Germanic roots and seems likely to have been used to describe the season when the days began to lengthen, signifying new life and renewal. Over time, the word Lent came to be more specifically defined as the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
Who Celebrates Lent?
Both Catholics and Protestants celebrate Lent; Lent is more popular among Catholic believers, but the tradition is growing among evangelicals. According to a LifeWay Christian Research study:
- “Three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) say they don’t typically observe Lent, according to a new survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.”
- “Catholics (61 percent) remain most likely to observe Lent, according to LifeWay’s survey. Protestants (20 percent) and those with evangelical beliefs (28 percent) are less likely.”
- “Forty-three percent of those who attend church at least once a month observe Lent. That includes 82 percent of Catholics who regularly attend service as well as 30 percent of Protestants.”
Eastern Orthodox Christians also celebrate Lent but on a slightly different schedule. The BBC states,
“Both the eastern and western churches observe Lent but they count the 40 days differently. The western church excludes Sundays (which is celebrated as the day of Christ’s resurrection) whereas the eastern church includes them. The churches also start Lent on different days. Western churches start Lent on the 7th Wednesday before Easter Day (called Ash Wednesday). Eastern churches start Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end it on the Friday 9 days before Easter. Eastern churches call this period the ‘Great Lent’.”
What Do People Give Up During Lent?
Most people give up a favorite food product or beverage, and many Catholics still abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays. Others may give up something they enjoy or something that distracts them from reflection like video games, television, or even social media.
According to the LifeWay Christian Research study cited above,
“Fasting from a favorite food or beverage (57 percent) and going to church (57 percent) are the most common ways to observe Lent. Additional prayer (39 percent), giving to others (38 percent) or fasting from a bad habit (35 percent) are also popular. Fasting from a favorite activity is less common (23 percent).
Fasting from a favorite food or beverage is more common out West (62 percent) than in the Northeast (42 percent). Young Americans, those 18 to 24, who observe Lent are more likely to choose this option (86 percent) than those over 65 (43 percent). Catholics (64 percent) are more likely give up a food or drink than Protestants (43 percent).”
Why Do People Give Something Up for Lent?
Most people give something up for Lent to symbolize Jesus’ sacrifice and his withdrawal into the desert to be tempted for 40 days. However, Christians should be careful not to think that their sacrifice of giving something up is in any way akin to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Giving something up for Lent does not lend you any merit toward your own salvation, justification, or sanctification. However, if you are giving something up as a way to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice (not your own) and what Jesus has done for you and is continuing to do for you then that fasting would be well placed.
On the topic of fasting, Crosswalk.com Contributor Sarah Phillips wrote:
“Fasting is a practice that has really gone by the wayside in many Christian circles. Yet, if done correctly, it can be a powerful time of renewing your relationship with God. Fasting can be found in both the Old Testament and the New, with Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9,18 ), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), and our Lord (Matthew 4:2) all participating in 40-day fasts. Fasting is a way of denying ourselves the excesses of life so that we might be more attuned to the Lord’s voice. It is also a way of disciplining yourself, strengthening your “spiritual muscles” so to speak, so that when temptations arise in life, you are already used to saying “no” to your desires. And finally, fasting is also a way of participating, in a small way, in the sufferings of Christ and can be particularly powerful when accompanied by prayer and confession.
A word of caution: although fasting can be a wonderful spiritual exercise, it is also an easy one to abuse. Make sure that when you fast, you do not deprive yourself so much that you do harm to your body. Fasting should only be practiced by adults and mature teens. Also, take into account any medical conditions or nutritional needs when deciding what and how much to abstain from (I recommend consulting with a doctor and/or spiritual advisor before undertaking a serious fast). On the spiritual front, Jesus warns us to guard against pride while fasting (Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-18).”
Do You Have to Give Something Up for Lent?
There is nothing in Scripture that requires a 40-day fast before you can celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Bible is clear that the resurrection and the promise of salvation are to be celebrated every day not just on Easter Sunday. Celebrating Lent is a preference not a biblical principle; therefore, use your best judgment based on Scripture for how you want to prepare your heart for the celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If giving something up for Lent causes you to focus too much on your own sacrifice vs. Christ’s then don’t observe Lent in the traditional way. Instead, start a special devotional in your prayer time if that’s more helpful or read through the gospels each week and so on. It’s more important to have solid daily habits that involve time with the Lord and prayers of thanks than it is to complete a 40-day fast successfully.
Denise K. Loock shares,
“When Paul told the Romans to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, I think he had in mind the daily-ness of sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2). My commitment to Jesus should involve the following:
- Daily contemplation of the price Jesus paid for my sins and my inability to meet God’s standard of righteousness
- Daily commitment to rely more on the Holy Spirit and less on myself
- Daily reflection on the endless supply of God’s mercy and grace
- Daily gratitude for the ways he allows me to be his hands and feet in a hurting world
Motivation is everything. David said the one thing he desired was spending time in God’s presence (Psalm 27:4). He also spoke of daily fulfilling his vows to the Lord (Psalm 61:8). Another psalmist wrote that he thirsted for God like a deer thirsts for water (Psalm 42:1-2). Again, there’s the daily-ness factor. After all, how many times a day does a deer seek water?”
-Excerpted from Should I Give Something Up for Lent?, shared with permission from UnlockingtheBible.org.
Should You Observe Lent?
Lent can be helpful for individuals but also for families. In the same way that Advent helps parents guide their children toward Christmas, Lent can provide a path of preparation for families to partake in together. Rather than focus on the excitement of the baskets and egg hunts, Lent can help keep your family focused on the real meaning of Easter and what Jesus’ sacrifice means for our salvation. So that on that joyous Easter Sunday, the celebration is all the more sweet and meaningful.
IBelieve.com writer Jennifer Kostic writes,
“I don’t know about you, but I often need refocusing. I have to purge distractions and force awareness of what is important. Life gets crazy. All of us have family responsibilities, work duties, and everyday life tasks that make the cross more distant than it should be. Putting the cross back into our line of vision grounds us in His love. It’s not that those of us who serve Christ allow a gap between us and the cross on purpose, but life and all its obligations sometimes add a haze to what happened on Calvary. We become so wrapped up in the right now, that we need to be reminded of what made us whole and able to breathe the air of freedom in the first place. … For me, the point isn’t really about what exactly I give up or what I choose to do differently. It’s about forcing myself to make new habits that remind me of the true gospel story which brings forth the revelation of Christ in my life.”
-Excerpted from Why I Was Wrong about Lent
Bible Verses for Lent
- Philippians 3:10-11– “I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participate in his sufferings, becoming like him in death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
- Joel 2:12-14– “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate.
- Matthew 6:16-18– “when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites…but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
A Prayer for Lent
Jesus, the journey you took to the cross was full of betrayal, grief, torture, and darkness, yet your love for us, your people, propelled you onward. Help us to comprehend just how powerful that love is, that you would suffer such a cruel death to make a way for us to be with you in glory forever. What a gift, Jesus. What a gift. May our praise never cease in this season. May our worship be unending. May our love for you find new depths. May this season bring new hope and new healing. May we journey toward the cross prayerfully and purposefully, even through the pain, our doubt, our questions, and our searching. May we find resurrection life springing up from this old dusty ground, and may we be surprised by joy in all of it. May Easter be a day of complete celebration as we rejoice in our risen Savior and praise our gracious Father. In you, we find the truest joy, Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We praise you in all of it. Hallelujah and amen.
Hello everyone, “What’s the Meaning of Lent?” Here’s a thing or two you might not know about the religious tradition of Lent. Not just about giving up chocolate but more about fasting, prayer, and alms giving.
Find out: https://www.reference.com/world-view/meaning-of-lent
Great article but it only states half of the truth. Lent comes from Old English lencten “springtime, spring,” the season, also “the fast of Lent,” from West Germanic *langitinaz “long-days,” or “lengthening of the day” (source also of Old Saxon lentin, Middle Dutch lenten, Old High German lengizin manoth). The practice of ashes is also pre-Christian. The sign of the cross rubbed with ashes is not exclusive to Christianity; it is found throughout the ancient world and was used as prominent symbol of the pagan Gods. For example, “the Tau cross was inscribed on the foreheads of initiates into the Mysteries of Mithras.” It is also note worthy that the act of simply sprinkling ashes directly on the head, which is also done on Ash Wednesday, was done in honor of the pagan Norse god Odin as well. The placing of ashes above the brow always occurred on Wednesday, the day named in honor of Odin. Thus the Lenten fast and its rituals such as ashes on the forehead and fasting are not rooted in Christ at all, but in the pre-Christian Pagan worship of antiquity. So once again, we see how Catholicism has adopted pagan practices and does not tell the full truth of their origin. The Catholic church is riddled with these practices like: 1) Calling people saints when bible says God is not a respecter of status (since all status comes from God), ashes and lent pagan practices, aura around the heads of figures on their stained glass windows which are from Roman gods practices, a figure on the cross when God says men are not to make any graven image of him (since God and Christ are one according to Jesus then this command to not make graven images should be transitory), praying to Mary when Jesus never said to pray to his earthly flesh mother but did say to pray to your heavenly father in secret who hears you in secret, calling priests “Father” when Jesus says you have but one father, and he is in heaven, and you shall not call any other person father, St. Blaze day blessing throats, etc. Catholicism needs to rid itself of non-biblical practices.