When does Lent start and what is the 40 day Lent challenge?
Lent will arrive on Wednesday 1 March and end on Thursday 13 April.
It is a time of reflection for many Christians, as they look back on and celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.
But what is the story of Lent, what do people give up and what is the challenge asking us to do one nice thing each day during this time?
What is the story of Lent and what does it mean?
In essence, Lent is a time to give things up.
For Christians, this is a way to remember the time Jesus spent 40 days and nights alone in the Judaean desert, being tempted by Satan.
As Jesus fasted during this time, Christians identify with this state by giving up particular foods during the 40 days of Lent, including products containing meat, fish, milk and eggs.
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, which is a day of penitence or cleansing of the soul.
Christians who attend Lent services will be marked with a cross of ashes on their forehead.
This symbol is based on a concept from the book of Genesis that humankind came into the world from dust, and will return to it upon death.
The following 40 days are taken as an opportunity to remember Jesus’ death – many give something up, and some take something on during this time.
How long is Lent?
In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – the day after Shrove Tuesday – each year.
The date is slightly different each year, and is either in late February or early March.
This year, it begins on 1 March.
Eastern Orthodox churches begin Lent with Clean Monday, which is two days before Western Churches. This year it’s on 27 February.
The end date of Lent is a little more difficult to pinpoint.
For Western churches, the 40 days of Lent ends on 15 April – the day before Easter – and is known as Holy Saturday.
However, the liturgical season of Lent ends before this – on Holy Thursday, which is on 13 April.
