How Does Lent Start and End? Key Dates and Traditions Explained

Learn when Lent starts and ends, its duration, and significance in Christian traditions including fasting and reflection.

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Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends either on Easter Saturday (in Western Christianity) or on Palm Sunday (in some traditions). It lasts for 40 days, excluding Sundays, and is a period of fasting, repentance, and reflection for Christians as they prepare for Easter.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the significance of Ash Wednesday in Lent? Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and symbolizes repentance and mortality, with many Christians receiving ashes on their foreheads.
  2. Why does Lent last 40 days? Lent lasts 40 days to symbolize the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, excluding Sundays which are considered feast days.
  3. Do all Christian traditions end Lent at the same time? No, Western Christianity typically ends Lent on Easter Saturday, while some traditions conclude it on Palm Sunday.