How Many Days Until Lent?
Lent 2026 begins on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and ends on Holy Saturday, Saturday, April 4, 2026.
About Lent
Lent is a solemn religious season in the Christian liturgical calendar, primarily observed by Catholics, Orthodox Christians (though dates differ), Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and others. It commemorates the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels, enduring temptation by Satan. Lent is a time of preparation and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday.
Purpose of Lent
Preparation for Easter
The primary goal is to prepare believers spiritually for the celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter.
Repentance & Renewal
It's a time for self-examination, acknowledging sin, seeking forgiveness, and renewing one's commitment to faith.
Spiritual Discipline
Through practices like fasting and prayer, believers aim to grow in self-control and focus more intently on their relationship with God.
Solidarity
Practices like almsgiving foster solidarity with the poor and reflect Christ's compassion.
The Three Pillars of Lent
Traditionally, Lenten observance focuses on three key practices, mirroring Jesus' teachings and actions:
Prayer
Increased focus on personal and communal prayer, scripture reading, and attending church services. It's about strengthening communication with God.
Fasting
Abstaining from certain foods (like meat on Fridays) or limiting meal sizes (especially on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday). It also includes "fasting" from negative habits or excessive consumption.
Almsgiving (Charity)
Giving money, time, or resources to those in need. This reflects gratitude for God's gifts and compassion for others.
The 40 Days of Lent
Lent spans approximately six weeks before Easter. While the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday is 46 days, the "40 days" of Lent traditionally exclude the Sundays.
- Biblical Significance: The number 40 appears frequently in the Bible, often representing periods of testing, trial, or preparation (e.g., Noah's flood, Moses on Mount Sinai, Israelites' wandering, Jesus in the desert).
- Excluding Sundays: Sundays are considered weekly commemorations of the Resurrection ("mini-Easters") and are therefore typically excluded from the Lenten fast, although the spirit of reflection continues.
- Start and End: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and culminates in Holy Week, the final week before Easter, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Common Lenten Practices
Giving Something Up
Abstaining from a particular food, drink, habit, or luxury (e.g., chocolate, social media, complaining) as a form of self-discipline.
Taking Something On
Adding a positive spiritual practice, such as daily prayer, reading scripture, volunteering, or performing acts of kindness.
Stations of the Cross
A devotional practice, especially common on Fridays, meditating on the events of Jesus' Passion and death.
Liturgical Color
Purple (or violet) is the primary liturgical color used during Lent, symbolizing repentance, mourning, and royalty.
The specific practices and level of observance can vary significantly among different Christian denominations and individuals.