Ash Wednesday–Giving It Up For Lent

Courtesy Pixabay

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, the BIG Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, and elsewhere. Parades, parties, food, beverages, and general hilarity will abound. The next day is the Big Reality Check of Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. This is the day that people of the Christian faith will go to church, at lunch, or in the evening, and have a cross of ashes smeared upon their foreheads. Why do we do this? According to the United Methodist Church


Lent is observed the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday/Passover, right before Easter. This year, Lent begins February 26th, with Easter this year on April 12th. Sundays aren’t added into Lent, but for some, Lent is daily until Easter Morning.

Many Christian churches also observe refraining from a favorite food, beverage, event, or practice.  I have a friend who gives up meat. Another gives up chocolate. And so on. Why do we ‘give up things’ for Lent, anyway? I googled it.

Do you give up a certain item for Lent? If so, what do you give up, until Easter? I’m curious. Please let me know.

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