Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. During this time, Christians from many different traditions fast by giving up something for Lent. Often people fast from different foods, but it can include other things.  To fast means we don’t eat something we like or don’t engage in some activity we prefer. The fast begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. The 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays, as on these days the Lent fast is broken to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Of course, traditions like Lent can be misunderstood, or misused, but Lent can be helpful. The best idea behind Lent is it prepares us for celebrating Easter by fasting and focusing on Jesus. The fast can remind us daily of Jesus’ sacrifice and combined with scripture and prayer deepens our relationship with God. Fasting can be a way of saying ‘no’ to something important to us, so we can say ‘yes’ to God who we love the most.