It’s that season again.
There are fish specials at restaurants and extra services at Christian churches of many denominations.
What exactly is Lent?
In 2019, Lent started March 6 and will end April
18. That’s the Thursday before Easter Sunday.
Lent comes from the Old English word “lencten,”which means spring.
Its the 40-day period before Easter.
The 40 days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Christian branches may have slightly different views of Lent, but traditionally it is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter.
It is also time of self-examination and reflection.
In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. It is from this tradition that eating of fish during Lent became prominent as many chose to give up meat for the 40 days.
Sundays in Lent are not counted in the 40 days as each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the resurrection.
There’s even a popular snack food whose creation legend is tied into Lent.
According to legend—not scripture—a seventh century monk was baking bread with only flour, water and salt, avoiding eggs and milk for Lent.
He shaped the bread in a common prayer position of the era, hands placed on opposite shoulders.
And the pretzel was born. Turn the pretzel with the round side up to see the prayer pose.
Sources for this article: United Methodist Church and Eternal Word Christian Network (Roman Catholic).
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.