Lent is a solemn religious observant time frame, that occurs about six weeks before Easter when Christians prepare themselves with prayer, penance (self punishment), repentance, (express sincere regret/remorse) almsgiving (charity), atonement (balance out wrongs you committed) and practice self denial (no explanation needed).
As a Christian youth, I remember no chocolate till Easter, to which you will be given a few- chocolate treats. But I don’t exactly remember having treats before lent either. I remember Pancake Tuesday - the day before and Ash Wednesday, the first day of lent which was significant because we got a dab of soot placed upon our foreheads.
Lent is a fasting time, though I can’t remember eating any less. Fasting and abstinence was more severe in ancient times. Perhaps this is why Pancake Tuesday was such a big hit because it was the last day to consume the sweet of syrup and the flour batter of pancakes. Just exactly how Mardi Gras got into the mix and the flashing of ta tas came into tradition - is a mystery to me, doesn’t really sound religious... but okay?
The other rites are imposed because the enactment is to become a better person, as man’s sins are what led Jesus to be crucified. No guilt there.
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| Lent - a rather dismal time |
According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. The ash received on the first day of lent represents our observance of human mortality and is a sign of mourning and repentance to God. One gets those ashes from the burning of the previous year’s Palm Sunday ceremony. They burn the palms in a ritual.
Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.
Repent, and believe the Gospel.
Lent is observed until Good Friday, which is the actual murder date of Jesus Christ. Honestly there isn’t anything “good” about that day and then of course we get into the entire Easter tradition which is the witness of Jesus’s ghost and other paranormal activity. That's all fodder for another post.
Lent today for me is a mere vague memory. It's a grey time of year, not yet spring, still cold and unbearably long.
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