What is lent and why do people follow it?

Answer 1

Lent is the time when catholics fast just like Jesus did for forty days in the dessert preparing him self for death. so during lent catholics give something that they enjoy very much. and on fridays they have no meat. examples of something catholics would give up: soda/gum/candy/tv

Answer 2

Lent is a period of time that proceeds the Easter holiday. It starts 40 days prior to Easter week. the "Period of Lent" is generally only recognized by Catholics with limited following among Protestant Christians. Within The Bible, a celebration called "Lent" (or anything similar) is not found. It seems to be an observance created by the Roman Catholic Church well after the Christian faith was already established.

Lenten observers generally give-up something during Lent to remind themselves of sacrifice and / or religious duty. Most commonly, you'll find Lenten observers abstaining from red meat or chicken on Fridays, opting for fish instead. "Sacrifices" can range from entirely trivial (i.e. no candy bars during lent), to extremely devout (i.e. continual church prayer). Again, not an observance recognized by most Protestant Christians who concede believers are saved by Grace through Faith - not by "observances" or any other "deeds" (see Ephesians 2:8-9).

Answer 3

Short answer- it is 40 days of coming close to God by prayer, giving things up, learning more about the faith and giving to good causes. It commemortates Jesus' 40 days in the desert before he began his ministry and the events during the week leading up to his death and burial. It is followed by Easter, a celebration of Jesus Resurrection from death.

Some more detail: - Lent means "spring" which is when if falls. It is a commemeration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert after his baptism and before he began his ministry.

The day before Lent is Shrove Tuesday - in Great Britain it is also called pancake day which reminds us that during Lent, in the past - and still in some churches - people fasted from a great many foods including dairy foods, pancakes would use up the last of the dairy produce.

Lent runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday the day after Holy Saturday is Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate Jesus Resurrection from the dead.

The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. A mixture of ash and oil is put on the foreheads of people at the church service to show their sorrow for sins and intention to turn towards God.

Lent is like a spiritual spring-clean, a time to think about how you live your life and to take especial care to be in touch with God. Lots of people are aware that people give some things up during Lent but Christians focus on self-examination, penitence, prayer, learning more about their faith, and giving as well as fasting which is the root of the "giving something up for Lent"

Different Christian churches celebrate lent in different ways. Orthodox Christians have very strict rules about fasting. Roman Catholic services in Lent involve meditating on "The Stations of the Cross" - points on Jesus's journey from his trial to being put into the tomb. (Wikippedia has a page about this). Fridays in Lent are more solemn in some churches and some Christians have a day off from their "giving up" on Sundays because every Sunday is a reminder of Jesus Resurrection.

In Great Britain the fourth Sunday in Lent is Mothering Sunday and people give their Mothers a card and/or a gift. Back in history servants were allowed to go home to their Mothers on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

The last week of Lent is known as Holy Week it is a reminder of the things that happened to Jesus during the last week of his life including:

Palm Sunday (reminder of the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and people waved palms)

Maundy Thursday (reminder of the meal Jesus had with his disciples and from which Christians get the Commuion Service)

Good Friday (reminder of the day Jesus died on the cross)

Holy Saturday Jesus was in the tomb - it is a day of waiting for...

Easter Sunday and the joy of celebrating Jesus risen from the dead.

I hope this answers your question

Answer 4

Lent is a Christian traditon that leads up to Easter. The purpose of Lent is to experience prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter.