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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.
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.
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.
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.
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