The 2026 Lenten season began on February 17th, with pancakes served on Mardi Gras (also called Fat Tuesday), signaling the last day of consuming rich, fatty foods and red meat before Lent officially began on Ash Wednesday.

Lent is a subject of confusion for some and a cherished tradition for others. Merriam-Webster tells us Lent is “40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter, observed by penitence and fasting and considered a means of preparation for Easter.”

If the season of Lent is not part of your experience, a closer look at what it is and what happens may help.

There is no biblical mandate for Lent. However, the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE formalized the period of preparation for Easter to echo the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan before beginning his public ministry, as found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Ash Wednesday was originally a time of penance for sinners who were excluded from Holy Communion and seeking restoration. They wore sackcloth and ashes as a sign of public penitence. Today, the custom is to receive ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead or sprinkled over the head.

Fasting, also practiced during Lent, is a biblical practice. Traditionally, Lent fasting involves limiting meals and abstaining from certain foods.

For most denominations that observe Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are formal fasting days, while the Fridays during Lent are meatless days. In earlier times, Lent fasting meant one main meal a day and strict observance of limited eggs or dairy.

Today, many people practice “giving up” something for Lent, like chocolate or social media, as a reminder of the season.

The last week of Lent is Holy Week. It begins with Palm Sunday and follows the New Testament narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and the joyful celebration of His Resurrection three days later, Easter Sunday.

Some denominations acknowledge Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

  • The Maundy Thursday services recognize The Last Supper, where Jesus ate with his disciples before his trial and crucifixion.
  • On Good Friday, some celebrate by not eating all day. Others by a partial fast. Many churches hold special church services.

The season of Lent ends with Easter Vigil at sundown on Holy Saturday with prayers through the night. Other churches hold sunrise services on Easter Sunday morning, which include open-air celebrations in some places.

During Lent, crucifixes, religious statues that show the triumphant Christ, and other elaborate religious symbols are veiled. The custom of veiling is typically practiced from Passion Sunday until Good Friday.

Overall, Lent is a time for self-reflection, emphasizing the three pillars of Lent:

prayer

fasting

giving

Lent doesn’t fall on the same dates each year because,  like Easter Sunday, it is tied to the calendar and the Moon rather than a fixed day. Easter itself is determined by the lunar cycle, following the Paschal Full Moon in spring.

The English word Lent is a shortened form of the Old English word lencten, meaning “spring season,” and the first day of Spring does fall during Lent this year. So if you don’t follow the Lent tradition, you can always celebrate the end of winter.