Every year, millions of Christians across the globe celebrate the festival of Lent.
The special period is preceded by Shrove Tuesday, the day that is colloquially known as Pancake Day. It ends on Easter Sunday, which comes with a four-day bank holiday weekend.
The celebration has many special traditions attached to it, an important one being giving up something you love.
If you’ve been wanting to learn more about Lent and you’re seeking some inspiration about what to give up, keep reading.
What is Lent?
Lent is a special season for Christians, which sees them remember the story of Jesus Christ’s death.
The Bible says Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days in the desert.
The word “Lent” comes from an old English word that means “lengthen”. This is a nod to the time of the year when our days start getting longer as seasons begin to change.
The celebration is a time for prayer, reflection, and community.
When is Lent and how long does it last?
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, which fell on February 22 this year. Special church services are often held to mark the day.
Lent lasts for approximately 40 days, during which many Christians give up something they love.
Some commit to more serious forms of fasting to imitate Jesus’s sacrifice during his journey into the desert.
Depending on the Christian denomination, the celebration period concludes on either Maundy Thursday (April 6) or on the evening of Holy Saturday (April 8, the day before Easter Sunday), when the Easter Vigil is marked.
What can I give up for Lent?
The idea is to give up something you love, so it has to be something that feels like a sacrifice and a period of fasting.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, here is a list of traditional and modern ideas of what you can give up this Lent.
- Alcohol
- Social media
- Meat and/or dairy products
- Coffee
- Smoking
- Gossip
- Online shopping
- Fast food
- Dating apps
- Video games
- Swearing
- Single-use plastic
- Takeaways
- Make-up
- Massages or facials
How to treat yourself on Easter Sunday
After 40 days of giving up the food you love, you might want to gorge on Easter Sunday.
If you’d prefer to do so without the effort of shopping and cooking, you might instead opt to book one of London’s dining rooms.
Across town are numerous pubs and restaurants offering special Easter menus. Others will be serving Sunday lunch as they always do — tried and tested, ready for action.
Alternatively, if you’ve given up chocolate for Lent, why not splash out on an indulgent Easter egg?
We’ve compiled a list of the best luxury eggs for a special chocolate treat as well as unusual eggs.
