The Christian festival of Lent is just around the corner, meaning spring is nearly here. The cold snap has hit the UK hard but there is light at the end of the tunnel with March fast approaching. Easter and Lent dates change annually, with Lent occurring at the start of March this year. Here is what you need to know about Lent 2025. The word "Lent" comes from the Old English term "lencten", meaning "spring”. It marks the transition from winter to spring and lasts 40 days, excluding Sundays.
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Lent is observed by many Christians, particularly in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and some Protestant traditions. It begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. In the Christian faith, Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and spiritual preparation for Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this period, Christians often engage in practices such as fasting, prayer, penance, and self-denial to grow closer to God and reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice.
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The 40 days of Lent are symbolic, reflecting the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. On Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, ashes — often made from the palm branches of the previous year's Palm Sunday — are applied to the foreheads of the faithful, signifying mortality and repentance. Lent starts on Wednesday, March 5 (Ash Wednesday) and ends on Thursday, April 17, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday.
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Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is the day before Lent begins, falling on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This day is traditionally linked to Lent, as Christians use it to indulge in foods they plan to give up during the 40 days of self-denial. Deciding what to give up for Lent is a personal choice, often involving something significant in your daily life. Here are some common things people choose to give up for Lent:.
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