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Lent traditionally lasts forty days long, mirroring the same period Jesus spent in the desert after his baptism preparing for his death and resurrection. It is officially observed as 44 days
by the Catholic Church to allow the six Sundays before Easter to be observed as Sabbath days, free from fasting. The holy festival is also observed by other branches of Christianity
including the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox Methodist and Lutheran churches. Many people choose to give up a luxury or bad habit during the religious festival as a mark of respect to Jesus who
refused temptations from the Devil. WHAT DATE DOES LENT 2018 START? Lent begins today on Wednesday, February 14, which is also Valentine’s Day. Ash Wednesday hails the start of Lent and is
preceded by Shrove Tuesday, commonly referred to as Pancake Day, when is it customary to eat pancakes and use up leftover rich ingredients such as butter, sugar and eggs. The date changes
every year because it is pre-determined by when Easter falls. READ MORE: WHY DOES EASTER CHANGE DATE EACH YEAR? EASTER DATES EXPLAINED This year, Lent ends on Thursday March, 29 - officially
Maundy Thursday, a holy day that is followed by Good Friday and Easter Weekend. Eastern Orthodox Churches will start two days Lent two days before Ash Wednesday with a fast in which nothing
is eaten from Monday morning to Wednesday night. WHAT HAPPENS ON ASH WEDNESDAY? As well as being day of fasting, Ash Wednesday is also synonymous with the placing of ashes on a person’s
forehead. The act is accompanied by the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” as a reminder for people to
begin their period of repentance. Worshippers can either have the ashes sprinkled over their heads or have them marked upon their forehand in the sign of a cross. WHAT DO PEOPLE GIVE UP FOR
LENT? Despite Lent being a Christian observation, many non-secular people will give something up as a means of proving to themselves that they can do it. Popular sins that people will give
up include smoking, chocolate, alcohol and sweets.