Christian students talk to Kotryna Visockyte about what they are not doing for Lent
Lent, in a Christian church, is a period of penitential preparation for Easter in Western churches. It begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and requires a 40-day fast. This year it falls between 17 February and 3 April.
Even though nowadays people are not as religious or strict as in the past, some still use this time to set new goals and achievements.
‘‘What I am doing for lent is basically no making out, no sex and praying as much as I can,’’ says Anne Cardot, law student at University of Essex.
‘‘I was supposed to pray every day but I felt pressured to so I just decided to pray as much as I can without being forced.’’
Originally, the purpose of Lent is for the believer to prepare for Easter by seeking God through prayer, giving alms, mortifying the flesh, and practicing self-control through fasting. Christians doing this time usually give up on animal products and alcohol.
During the fasting period, the person is permitted only one full meal a day, usually in the evening.
“I’m not a Christian, but I do like numbers. I’m going to not have any cigarettes until Easter, unless I get covid’’ says Ben Edwards, English Literature and Creative Writing student.
Even though the true origins of Lent are still unknown, it is believed that it was created by the Council of Nicea in 325 to honour the fast of Jesus Christ’s in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.