Lent

In Western Christianity, Lent is the period before the Christian holy day of Easter. Eastern Christianity calls this period Great Lent, to distinguish it from the Winter Lent or Advent that precedes Christmas (though in Greek, the two periods are the "Great Fast" and the "Nativity Fast"). The rest of this article will discuss Lent as it is understood and practiced in Western Christianity, except when as noted.

Related Topics:
Western Christianity - Christian - Easter - Eastern Christianity - Great Lent - Winter Lent or Advent - Christmas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It covers the forty days before Easter, not including Sundays. The Wednesday beginning Lent is known as Ash Wednesday. The dating of Easter, which determines that of Lent, is discussed elsewhere. Roughly speaking, Lent starts near the end of Winter in the northern hemisphere and ends near the beginning of Spring. The earliest Lent can begin is on February 4 and the latest it can end is April 24 (if Easter Sunday should occur on April 25).

Related Topics:
Easter - Ash Wednesday - Elsewhere - Winter - Spring - February 4 - April 24 - Easter Sunday - April 25

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Germanic origin of the word Lent (e.g. Anglo-Saxon lencten) originally meant the season of Spring, referring to the lengthening of days as reflected in an Anglo-Saxon word for March: Lenctenmonat. It has substituted since Anglo-Saxon times for the more significant Latin term quadragesima or the "fortieth day" before Easter, which is preserved in the Romance languages' terms for the Lenten season. Lent is also preserved in the common Dutch word for the spring season, which is called Lente.

Related Topics:
Germanic - Anglo-Saxon - Spring - Anglo-Saxon - March - Latin - Romance languages

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the Cross, Lent is concerned with preparation for Holy Week (also known as Passion Week), which recalls the events leading up to and including Jesus' crucifixion by Rome. This took place around AD 33, in Roman-occupied Jerusalem in Judea province.

Related Topics:
Resurrection of Jesus - Cross - Holy Week - Crucifixion - Rome - 33 - Jerusalem - Judea

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~