Lent 2019: What is Ash Wednesday, when does Lent start and end?
LENT 2019 is the solemn Christian festival, starting with Ash Wednesday that ends with Easter - but when does it start and finish?
Ash Wednesday: Top ten facts about first day of Lent
Lent is a fasing period lasting 40 days and which is celebrated by different Christian denominations from around the world. Honouring Jesus's 40-day fast in the desert, Lent is a period of reflection and restraint. People usually choose to give up vices during the period in commemoration of the sacrifices made by Christ. Many people say they are giving up something for Lent, with chocolate, alcohol and sweets being popular examples.
Lent culminates with Easter when Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus.
What is Ash Wednesday? When does Lent start and end?
The dates of Lent change every year in accordance with the moveable feast of Easter.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent and it takes place the day after Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pancake Day.
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During Shrove Tuesday, people use up the last of their luxury food items, traditionally eggs and butter, before they embark on the fast.
This year Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, March 6.
The day’s name comes from the practice of religious leaders, such as a priest, placing a cross of ashes on a Christian’s head.
The ashes symbolises the dust from which God created people.
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They are burnt from palm trees used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday services.
As the cross is applied to the person’s forehead, the priest will say: “Remember that you are guest, and to dust you shall return.”
An alternative saying is “Repent and believe in the Gospel”.
Ash Wednesday begins 46 days before Easter Sunday but in western Christianity, Sundays are not counted as fast days which is why there are only 40 in total.
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Eastern churches do include the days however and start the days of Lent at a different time.
In Western Christianity, Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.
This year Holy Saturday falls on April 20.
But Eastern churches beginning Lent on the Monday of the seventh week before Easter, finishing on the Friday nine days before Easter Sunday.