Lent: That is why fasting takes place from Ash Wednesday to Easter

Not only does Mardi Gras end on Ash Wednesday, Lent also begins for Christians on this day. This lasts until Easter. You can find out what religious background is during Lent in this article.

Easter Lent - more than just a custom for Christians

For believing Christians, the Easter penitence, as Lent is also called, is a very important time in the church year. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.

• Lent began on Ash Wednesday in the sixth century. This day heralds a 40-day Lent for Christians. The last day of Lent is Holy Saturday.
• The calendar period spans more than 40 days. However, Sundays in the church are not counted in Lent.
• It is no coincidence that believing Christians are fasting for 40 days. This period is reminiscent of the 40 days that Jesus Christ himself fasted in the desert. He resisted the devil's temptations there.
• For example, the devil asked Jesus to let the stones in the desert become bread in order to have something to eat. Jesus replied: "It is written: Man should not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
• The Church calls on devout Catholics between the ages of 14 and 60 to fast during the Easter penitence. Sick people are excluded. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are so-called "required fasting days", on which Catholics are usually only allowed to eat one meal.
• On Ash Wednesday, Lent is traditionally started with the use of sour herring food. On Good Friday it is imperative that a maximum of fish be eaten. On Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated with a feast, among other things.
• The Ash Cross drawn on Catholics' forehead on Ash Wednesday symbolizes the transience of life. This sign is only available in the Catholic Church or in an ecumenical service also for Protestants.

Religious fasting - what that means

Most people associate fasting with largely avoiding eating.

• Fasting actually includes many other aspects. This also includes abstinence from certain foods. Overall, it's all about doing without.
• Strict believers dispense with different things during Lent. These include sweets, meat, alcohol and tobacco enjoyment.
• In principle, during Lent, any excessive consumption of food is already a break from the fasting requirement. Even if the food is actually allowed. So every meal in excess is a break of fasting.
• The real purpose of Lent is to become more open to the Word of God and more receptive to religious experiences.
• In addition to not doing certain things, this fasting is also expressed, for example, in daily, intensive prayer.
• An increased willingness to donate during Lent is also common. Believers should also take more time for their fellow human beings.
• A little story at the Fatenzeit: The people and monks in the Middle Ages did not necessarily starve before Easter. A legend from earlier times reflects the invention of the Maultaschen. There a monk packed meat in dough, hiding the meat from God's eyes.
• This story is said to have happened in the Maulbronn Monastery in the 16th century. Since Maulbronn is located in Swabian, the Maultaschen are also called “Herrgottsb'scheißerle”.

We will explain the difference between Catholic and Evangelical in our next post.