Lent is a religious season observed in the spring by most Christians. It serves as a time of spiritual discipline and renewal in preparation for Easter. Many churches hold special worship services during the season. Besides attending these services, Christians observe Lent with fasting, prayer, and self-sacrifice. Some Christians do charity work.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in many churches. In the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, Lent begins on a Monday, which is sometimes called Pure Monday or Clean Monday. The Lenten season lasts about 40 days, excluding Sundays in Western churches, and excluding Saturdays and Sundays in Eastern churches. The number 40 recalls Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness, as described in the Gospels. Most churches reserve special observance of Jesus’ Passion (suffering and death) for the last week of Lent, called Holy Week.
The word Lent comes from words meaning spring and long and probably refers to the lengthening of days as spring approaches. Lent probably grew out of the early Christian church’s practice of baptizing people at the Easter vigil (watch), a service held on the eve of Easter. During the vigil, the church also accepted repentant Christians back into the faith. In the weeks before Easter, candidates for baptism fasted and received religious instruction. By the A.D. 900’s, Lent had become a time of penance and preparation for Easter for all Christians. The observance of Lent was set at 40 days in the A.D. 600’s.
