Lent 2026 begins on Wednesday, February 18 — and if you’re reading this, you’re just in time.
For millions of Christians around the world, Lent represents the most spiritually significant season of the year outside of Easter itself. Specifically, it’s a time of reflection, repentance, fasting, and preparation. Moreover, it’s a season to strip away distractions and focus on what matters most.
But what exactly is Lent? Why 40 days? And how can you observe it in a way that actually transforms your walk with God?
What Is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and repentance that Christians observe in preparation for Easter Sunday — the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lencten,” meaning spring. Essentially, it refers to the lengthening of days as winter gives way to new life — a fitting metaphor for the spiritual renewal this season represents.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday (also called Maundy Thursday), the evening before Good Friday. Although the calendar shows 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, churches traditionally exclude Sundays from the fasting count because every Sunday celebrates the resurrection as a “mini-Easter.”
Why 40 Days?
The number 40 appears throughout Scripture as a period of testing, trial, and transformation. Consider these examples:
- Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11)
- Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the Law (Exodus 24:18)
- Elijah traveled 40 days to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
- The Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert (Numbers 14:33)
- Noah endured 40 days of rain during the flood (Genesis 7:12)
Consequently, Lent invites believers to enter their own wilderness experience — not as punishment, but as preparation. Just as Jesus emerged from the desert ready to fulfill His mission, Christians emerge from Lent ready to celebrate the resurrection with renewed hearts.
Lent 2026: Key Dates
Here’s your complete calendar for Lent 2026:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Thursday, February 12 | Fat Thursday (Poland, Germany, Italy) |
| Monday, February 16 | Collop Monday (traditional) |
| Tuesday, February 17 | Fat Tuesday / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day / Mardi Gras |
| Wednesday, February 18 | Ash Wednesday (Lent begins) |
| Sunday, February 22 | First Sunday of Lent |
| Monday, February 23 | Orthodox Great Lent begins |
| Sunday, March 15 | Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) |
| Thursday, March 19 | Feast of St. Joseph |
| Wednesday, March 25 | Annunciation of the Lord |
| Sunday, March 29 | Palm Sunday (Holy Week begins) |
| Thursday, April 2 | Holy Thursday / Maundy Thursday (Lent ends) |
| Friday, April 3 | Good Friday |
| Saturday, April 4 | Holy Saturday |
| Sunday, April 5 | Easter Sunday |
How the World Celebrates Before Lent
Before the solemnity of Lent begins, Christians around the globe enjoy one final celebration. Although traditions vary wildly by country, the purpose remains the same: use up rich foods like eggs, butter, sugar, and meat before the fasting season begins.
Poland: Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek)
The Poles don’t wait for Tuesday. Instead, Fat Thursday falls on the last Thursday before Ash Wednesday — February 12, 2026 — and it ranks as one of the biggest food holidays in Poland.
The star of the show is the pączki (pronounced “poonch-key”) — a large, deep-fried doughnut that bakers traditionally fill with rose hip jam and dust with powdered sugar or glaze with icing. Additionally, Poles enjoy faworki (also called chrusty or “angel wings”) — thin, deep-fried pastry strips that they dust with icing sugar.
Interestingly, a popular saying warns: “Whoever does not eat at least one pączek on Fat Thursday will have bad luck for the entire year.” As a result, Poles consume an estimated 88 million doughnuts on this single day. Furthermore, in cities like Chicago with large Polish communities, bakeries see lines around the block starting at dawn.
United Kingdom & Commonwealth: Pancake Day
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, Shrove Tuesday goes by a more familiar name: Pancake Day. This tradition dates back centuries — church bells (called “Pancake Bells”) would ring to call parishioners to confession, and afterward, families would head home to make pancakes.
The goal was simple: use up remaining eggs, milk, and butter before Lent. British pancakes are thin, similar to French crêpes, and people traditionally serve them with lemon juice and sugar. Moreover, some towns still hold pancake races, where competitors flip pancakes while running through the streets.
In Ireland, tradition holds that the eldest unmarried daughter should flip the first pancake. If she succeeds, marriage will surely come within the year.
United States: Mardi Gras
In New Orleans, Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”) marks the culmination of weeks of celebration. The Carnival season technically begins on Epiphany (January 6) and builds to a climax on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
The celebrations feature elaborate parades that social clubs called “krewes” organize. Costumed riders throw beads in the traditional colours of purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power). Meanwhile, the iconic food is king cake — a ring-shaped pastry that bakers decorate in festival colours. The cake often contains a hidden plastic baby figurine, and whoever finds the baby must host the next gathering.
Germany: Fasching and Karneval
Germans celebrate their own Fat Thursday, known by various regional names including Schmutziger Donnerstag (“Greasy Thursday”), Altweiberfastnacht, or Fetter Donnerstag. In the Alemannic dialects, “schmutzig” means lard or fat — referring to the traditional consumption of remaining winter stores of butter and lard.
The day often features women wearing men’s clothing and symbolically “taking over” town halls. Subsequently, the celebrations continue through Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) and culminate on Fastnachtsdienstag (Shrove Tuesday).
Italy: Carnival of Venice
Italians call Fat Tuesday “Martedì Grasso,” and they celebrate both this day and Giovedì Grasso (Fat Thursday). The most famous celebration takes place at the Carnival of Venice, where participants wear elaborate masks and costumes.
This tradition dates back to 1162, when Venetians danced in San Marco Square to celebrate a military victory. Popular masks include the bauta (covering the whole face with no mouth opening) and the distinctive beaked plague doctor mask.
Brazil: Carnival in Rio
Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival ranks among the largest festivals on earth, attracting millions of visitors each year. The celebration features massive parades with elaborately decorated floats, samba dancers in vibrant costumes, and street parties throughout the city. Like other pre-Lenten celebrations, it represents a final burst of indulgence before the fasting season.
Sweden: Fettisdagen
Swedes celebrate Fat Tuesday by eating semlor (also called fastlagsbullar) — cardamom-spiced wheat buns that bakers fill with almond paste and whipped cream. Remarkably, Swedes consume an estimated six million semlor on this single day in a country of just ten million people.
Originally, this was the only day Swedes could eat these cream buns. In fact, King Adolf Frederick famously died in 1771 after consuming a massive meal that included 14 semlor.
Iceland: Sprengidagur (Bursting Day)
Icelanders take “Fat Tuesday” literally — Sprengidagur means “Bursting Day.” The tradition involves eating salted lamb and split pea soup until you’re ready to burst.
The day before is bollugadur (“Bun Day”), when children receive cream-filled buns. Additionally, children can playfully “spank” adults with decorated wands in exchange for more treats.
Other European Traditions
In Denmark and Norway, the celebration called Fastelavn takes place on the Sunday or Monday before Ash Wednesday. Children dress in costumes, and families enjoy fastelavnsboller — cream-filled buns similar to Swedish semlor.
Lithuania celebrates Užgavėnės with pancakes (blynai), but the most distinctive tradition involves burning an effigy called Morė — a symbolic farewell to winter.
In France, people enjoy crêpes, beignets, and waffles. Many cities hold carnival celebrations, with the largest in Nice featuring two weeks of parades along the French Riviera.
What Is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. On this day, Christians attend special church services where a minister or priest marks their foreheads with ashes in the shape of a cross.
Churches typically make these ashes by burning the palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration. As the minister applies the ashes, they speak one of two traditional phrases:
- “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19)
- “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15)
These words aren’t meant to depress you. Rather, they’re meant to wake you up. In a world obsessed with youth, success, and self-promotion, Ash Wednesday reminds us that life is short, eternity is real, and how we live matters.
The visible cross of ashes serves as a public witness of faith and a personal reminder of mortality and the need for repentance. Importantly, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church — meaning attendance isn’t technically required. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most well-attended services of the entire liturgical year.
The Three Pillars of Lent
Christians have observed Lent for nearly 1,700 years, developing practices over centuries. The three traditional pillars of Lent are fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
Fasting During Lent
Fasting involves limiting food intake as a form of self-discipline and spiritual focus. Traditional rules include:
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Full fasting (one main meal plus two smaller meals that don’t equal a full meal) and abstaining from meat
- All Fridays during Lent: Abstaining from meat
- Throughout Lent: Many Christians voluntarily give up something meaningful — food, entertainment, social media, or habits
The purpose isn’t to earn God’s favor or punish yourself. Instead, fasting creates space. When you feel hunger pangs or reach for something you’ve given up, you’re reminded to turn your attention to God.
Catholics aged 18-59 must follow fasting regulations, while those 14 and older must observe abstinence from meat on the required days.
Prayer During Lent
Lent is a season of intensified prayer. Many Christians add extra prayer times to their daily routine, attend additional church services, or follow a Lenten devotional guide.
Prayer during Lent often focuses on:
- Confession and repentance
- Gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice
- Intercession for others
- Listening for God’s direction
Almsgiving During Lent
The third pillar is generosity — giving time, money, or resources to those in need. This outward expression of faith connects fasting (self-denial) with service to others.
Jesus said, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (Matthew 6:3-4). Therefore, Lenten giving isn’t about recognition — it’s about reflecting God’s heart for the poor and vulnerable.
What Should I Give Up for Lent?
This is the most common question people ask as Lent approaches. While there’s no required answer, here are some guiding principles:
Choose something meaningful. Giving up broccoli when you hate broccoli isn’t a sacrifice. Instead, choose something that will actually create space for God — something you’ll miss.
Consider adding, not just subtracting. Rather than only giving something up, consider adding a spiritual practice: daily Bible reading, weekly service, journaling, or extended prayer times.
Let it point you to Jesus. Whatever you choose, the goal remains the same — to deepen your relationship with Christ. Every time you feel the absence of what you’ve given up, let it remind you to pray.
Popular Lenten sacrifices include:
- Social media
- Streaming services and television
- Coffee or alcohol
- Sweets and junk food
- Complaining or negative speech
- Excessive spending
Alternatively, some people choose to “give up” in a different way — giving up time to volunteer, giving up comfort to serve others, or giving up pride to reconcile relationships.
Do Protestants Observe Lent?
Yes — though practices vary widely among denominations.
Lent has historically been associated with Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions. However, many evangelical and non-denominational churches have embraced Lenten observance in recent decades, recognizing its value for spiritual formation.
Nothing in Scripture commands Lent, but nothing forbids it either. The practices of fasting, prayer, and generosity are thoroughly biblical. Lent simply provides a structured season to pursue them intentionally.
If your church doesn’t formally observe Lent, you can still participate personally. The season belongs to all believers who want to prepare their hearts for Easter.
What About Orthodox Christians?
Orthodox Christians observe Great Lent according to a slightly different calendar. In 2026, Orthodox Great Lent begins on Monday, February 23, following Forgiveness Sunday (also called Cheesefare Sunday).
Orthodox fasting traditions tend to be stricter than Western practices. They often include abstinence from meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, and oil on certain days. The Orthodox Lenten journey culminates in Holy Week and Pascha (Easter), which in 2026 falls on April 12 — one week after Western Easter.
What Is Holy Week?
The final week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it begins with Palm Sunday on March 29, 2026.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when crowds waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:1-11). Churches often distribute palm branches and read the Gospel accounts of that day. Later, churches burn these palms to create the ashes for next year’s Ash Wednesday.
Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) remembers the Last Supper, when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and instituted communion. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word for “commandment,” referring to Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34). Lent officially ends as the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins.
Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Many churches hold solemn services, often from noon to 3 p.m., representing the hours Jesus hung on the cross.
Holy Saturday is a day of waiting and silence — the day Jesus lay in the tomb. The Easter Vigil, celebrated after sunset, begins the celebration of the resurrection.
Easter Sunday is the culmination of the entire Lenten journey — the celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death. He is risen!
How to Make Lent Meaningful This Year
Lent isn’t about religious performance. Rather, it’s about positioning your heart to encounter God more deeply. Here are practical ways to make this season count:
1. Start with honest self-examination. Before Ash Wednesday, spend time in prayer asking God to reveal areas of your life that need attention. Where have you drifted? What habits are pulling you away from Him?
2. Choose one or two focused practices. Don’t try to do everything. Instead, pick one thing to give up and one thing to add. Then stick with them for 40 days.
3. Find accountability. Tell someone what you’re doing and check in weekly. Shared commitment strengthens resolve.
4. Attend extra services if possible. Many churches offer Ash Wednesday services, midweek Lenten gatherings, and special Holy Week observances. These create space for reflection you won’t find in your normal routine.
5. Read through the Gospels. Use Lent to walk slowly through Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Pay attention to Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem and the cross.
6. Practice confession. Whether through a formal sacrament or personal prayer, use Lent to honestly confess sin and receive God’s forgiveness. Don’t carry guilt — lay it down.
7. Prepare for Easter. Keep the end in sight. You’re not fasting just to fast — you’re preparing to celebrate. Let the anticipation build.
The Point of It All
Lent strips away the noise so you can hear God’s voice more clearly.
It slows you down so you can walk more intentionally.
It empties your hands so they’re open to receive.
And it leads you, step by step, to the foot of the cross — where you remember that someone loved you enough to die for you.
Then, on Easter morning, you celebrate with a heart that’s been prepared. The resurrection isn’t just a historical event. It’s an invitation to new life. Lent helps you say yes.
Closing Verse:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 (ESV)