Lent
A History of Lent
Lent is a season of 40 days (not including Sundays) leading up to Easter, beginning with Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Saturday. Sundays are considered "feast days" when fasts can be broken to celebrate the Sabbath. During these 40 days, Christians around the world dedicate themselves to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, imitating Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, where he fasted and was tempted by Satan. It is a season for repentance, self-denial, and remembering our mortality. Though the origins or Lent are not entirely certain, the forty-day fast prior to Easter was already a well-established custom by 325 AD, as is evident from the fact that the canons of the Council of Nicaea reference it as common practice.
Three Pillars of Lent
Pray. Fast. Give.
Traditionally, the church has turned her attention to three spiritual practices during Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving (serving others). These practices are based on Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6:1-18, where he instructs his followers to pray, fast and give to the poor, but to do it all in secret, unlike the hypocrites who do it publicly, for show.
Before Lent Begins
Shrove Tuesday: The day before Ash Wednesday goes by many names: Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Pancake Day. The point of each is the same: a giant party before the season of fasting begins! It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word, "shriven", which means to be absolved from sin, because Christians would (and still do) go to confession the day before Lent began.
Pancake Tuesday: Feasting on pancakes the night before Ash Wednesday dates back to 16th century Britain when Christians would make pancakes to get rid of all the sugar, eggs, butter, and indulgent foods before fasting.
Fat Tuesday: In the same vein as Pancake Tuesday, it is the last night of eating "fatty" foods for a while.
Mardi Gras: Simply means "Fat Tuesday" in French! The customs of Mardi Gras celebrations migrated from France to New Orleans in the 1700's and have taken on a life of their own.
Whatever you call it, don't miss the opportunity to celebrate with friends and family to mark the end of one church season and the beginning of the next.
This information is from the Little Way Lent Guide that will be available for families on Ash Wednesday and Lent along with Lifted Up In Love: Devotions for Lent and Easter, Reflections from Henri J. M. Nouwen.
