Lent is a 40-day-long period of spiritual preparation for Easter practiced by many Christians worldwide. During Lent, Christians participate in fasting, praying, and giving to the needy. Many different types of Christians, like Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, and some Protestants, participate. Lent started on March 5 this year and will continue until April 17. Lent originally started as an early Christian tradition to prepare for baptism. The 40-day fast started because Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying in the desert after he was baptized.
The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday. This year, Ash Wednesday happened on March 5, 2025. Ash Wednesday happens six and a half weeks before Easter. During this day, people usually put ashes on their foreheads as a cross and start fasting for Lent. In the early Christian Church, Lent started on a Sunday, 42 days before Easter. However, this meant there were only 36 days of fasting, excluding Sundays. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, so the Church wanted to imitate this and wanted the fasting to be 40 days, so they moved the start of Lent 4 days back to Wednesday.
The last day of Lent ends on Holy Thursday, which this year is April 17, 2025. Holy Thursday is always the Thursday before Easter. On this day, Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus before his crucifixion and have a simple meal of bread and wine. In the early Christian Church, a group would gather, take a blessing from the holy oils for baptism, and have a foot-washing ceremony to remember Christ. During the last week of Lent, from April 13 to 20, Passion or Holy Week is celebrated to remember the last days of Jesus and the sacrifice he made for humanity.
Lent is celebrated in many ways. It is a preparation period before Jesus’s resurrection, which is celebrated during Easter. During Lent, people are supposed to read sacred scripture and dedicate themselves to praying to the Lord. Additionally, people give alms and practice self-control. Some people also do not eat one particular type of food for a while as an alternative to fasting.
Many people also experience different mental states and fasting methods during Lent. Here is one way a teacher on our campus celebrates Lent.
“During Lent, I just try to have a clearer mind and try to appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus. I fast every Monday from dinner on Sunday to dinner on Monday,” says Teacher Nick Zarcone.
Many people in our school participate in Lent too. This is how a student on our campus participates in Lent.
“I don’t eat meat for 40 days plus another ten days for Passion Week,” says 7th grader Isha Elizabeth Kurian.
Passion week is the sixth and last week of Lent. It lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
Giovanni Camara, a 7th grader, states, “I love participating in Lent, and I feel really good after fasting every Friday for the whole Lent period.”
In conclusion, Lent is a sacred time for Christians. It is practiced by doing various things, but most people pray, fast, and give to the poor. Christians participate in Lent to reflect on their actions and deepen their faith before the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Lent is a spiritual renewal, a chance to reconnect with God and ask for forgiveness.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ash-Wednesday-Christian-holy-day
