What is the official end of Lent?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 13, 2026
Lent traditionally ends during “Holy Week,” on “Holy Saturday,” which is Saturday, April 16, 2022. However, since 1969, Catholics now stop observing Lent on “Maundy Thursday” or “Holy Thursday,” two days prior.
Does Lent End on Good Friday or Easter Sunday?
Lent ends either on the evening of Maundy Thursday or at sundown on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Sunday), depending on the Christian denomination and local custom. Lent lasts 40 days but does not include Sundays, so technically lasts for 44 or 46 days, again dependent on denomination.
When you give up something for Lent when does it end?
Lent usually begins on Ash Wednesday (itself a different date every year) and ends on Holy Thursday (the day before Good Friday when Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion). That's a period of 40 days if you don't count Sundays.
What celebration do we have at the end of Lent?
Lent ends with Holy Week, which leads to Easter Sunday - the most important day in the Christian calendar. This day marks the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross, and is a celebration of his life.
Does Lent End on Easter?
When does Lent end? The official end of Lent is on Saturday, April 16, 2022, the day before Easter Sunday. There's an entire list of events leading up to the finale that's called Holy Week.
27 related questions foundWhy Does Lent End Thursday?
Lent is a Christian tradition but many non-believers take part. As Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, the 40-day period ends three days before Easter Sunday. This means that Lent ended on Maundy Thursday (April 14).
Does Lent End on Saturday at noon?
Abstinence from meat was to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays and Saturdays in Lent. The Lenten fast ended on Holy Saturday at noon.
Does Lent End on Saturday or Thursday?
Lent traditionally ends during “Holy Week,” on “Holy Saturday,” which is Saturday, April 16, 2022. However, since 1969, Catholics now stop observing Lent on “Maundy Thursday” or “Holy Thursday,” two days prior.
What can you do instead of giving something up for Lent?
Here are five ways I've considered taking on a new habit this Lent and why I think they can work.
- Read an hour a day. ...
- Add regular exercise into your daily routine. ...
- Practice a Sabbath. ...
- Give a dollar a day to something worthwhile. ...
- Spend a block of time daily with your significant other or your kids.
Is Holy Saturday a day of fasting?
According to Paenitemini, the 1983 Code of Canon Law and the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and where possible, throughout Holy Saturday, both abstinence and fasting are required of Catholics who are not exempted for various reasons.
Can you give up anything for Lent?
During Lent, believers typically fast, give something up or commit to certain acts of kindness for the 40 days between when Lent starts and ends. However, it's sometimes difficult to decide what to give up for Lent — after all, you can only give up chocolate so many times before it gets repetitive.
Is Lent only a Catholic thing?
It is predominately observed by Catholics (and the Orthodox, albeit on a slightly different calendar), but Christians of all denominations can and do participate. About a quarter of Americans observe Lent (including 61 percent of Catholics, and 20 percent of Protestants), according to a 2017 Lifeway poll.
Why are there 40 days of Lent?
Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.
How long does Lent last Catholic?
Lent is 40 days long, not including Sundays (that means the season is technically 46 days long). The fact that it's 40 days has significance. According to Father William Saunders of the Catholic Education Resource Center, "the number 40 has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation ...
Are Sundays included in the 40 days of Lent?
"The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the Time of Lent, but they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence." Father Michael Russo, pastor of St. Anne Church in Youngsville, said the count of days in Lent is more about the 'imitation' of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert than a literal recreation.
What happened on Shrove Tuesday in the Bible?
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins).
What should I give up for Lent 2022?
General Ideas for Lenten Sacrifices
- Give up coffee (or only brew it at home)
- Give up alcohol.
- Give up certain social media sites, or limited them to certain days/time of day.
- Give up electronics after a certain time in the day (i.e., no screens after 8 p.m.)
- Sleep without a pillow.
- Wake up without hitting the snooze button.
What should I give up for God?
30 Things To Give up for Lent
- Complaining. Philippians 2:14 says it clearly: “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” And yet, for many of us, complaining is something we view as a basic right, rather than something to avoid. ...
- Sweet Treats. ...
- Television. ...
- Screen Time. ...
- Gossiping. ...
- Video Games. ...
- Shopping. ...
- Coffee.
What color is featured during Lent?
Purple. Worn during Lent or the Advent, purple represents penance, preparation, and sacrifice. It is also worn at funerals because of its connection to mourning.
What are the three pillars of Lent?
To help keep us on track, the church offers us three pillars to focus our efforts around: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. While the practice of fasting during Lent is widely known and observed, not many people are keen to add to their daily prayer regimen.
Can we eat meat on Good Friday?
Also, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays during Lent, adult Catholics over the age of 14 abstain from eating meat. During these days, it is not acceptable to eat lamb, chicken, beef, pork, ham, deer and most other meats. However, eggs, milk, fish, grains, and fruits and vegetables are all allowed.
Is Triduum part of Lent?
In the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian and Reformed traditions, the Paschal Triduum straddles the two liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter in the Church calendar (Holy Saturday is the last day of Lent, with the Easter Vigil being the first liturgy of Eastertide); however, in the Roman Catholic tradition, since ...
What is the purpose of almsgiving?
Charity, or almsgiving, is an outward sign of Christian love for others. Generally, it involves some type of sacrifice on behalf of the giver in order to provide for the needs of the other. In doing this, bonds of community are formed.
Can you eat on the last day of Lent?
Eating meat on Ash Wednesday
Catholics will avoid meat, including beef, pork, chicken, ham, and lamb, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and other Fridays during Lent. However, fish and animal products like eggs and milk are allowed.