What exactly is Lent? Lent is a religious Christian holiday that spans 40 days. This year, the first day of Lent was February 22nd, which is also Ash Wednesday. The holiday will continue until April 6th at sundown, which is Holy Thursday. The week that Lent ends is also known as “Holy Week ”, and starts on Palm Sunday which is April 2nd. Holy Week is the most sacred week of Christianity as it includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and finally Easter Sunday. Throughout the week Christians come together and remember and commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and participate in the Passion of Jesus Christ, which was his final span of a lifetime in Jerusalem.

Lent is the season for fasting, prayer, and Almsgiving. Christians spend the 40-day season preparing for Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. To prepare Christians to serve alms and focus on Almsgiving. Almsgiving is when Christians perform acts of charity, such as donating money, food, and goods to the poor. There are many different types of church ministries to donate to that are looking for collections during Lent. During Lent, Christians practice self-control through fasting.

Many people that celebrate this holiday give up an object that they like a lot of food they may eat often for Lent, such as their favorite food. However, the proper way to fast during Lent is to only eat one full meal as well as two smaller meals. But those two smaller meals together should not equal one full meal. The normal fasting ages are from 18 to 69 and abstinence from meat during Lent is allowed from the age of 14 and up.

During Lent, Christians read the Sacred Scripture to seek the Lord in prayer and practice self-control. Most people think that self-control during Lent is only not eating meat on Fridays, but it’s more than that. It is a reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice. When praying during Lent we are trying to reach for God’s forgiveness as it is believed that Christians have let God down over and over again. Doing these things can never make us earn or deserve Jesus’ sacrifice, as he sacrificed himself on Good Friday to offer forgiveness and to take the punishment for the people’s wrongdoings.

Spending time and making the effort to fast, donate, and pray during Lent can make Jesus’s sacrifice on Good Friday and his Easter Sunday resurrection more meaningful and special. All Christians that celebrate Lent should remember to fast safely, donate to the right charities, make a daily prayer, and have a happy Lent!