We’ve heard a lot about the Islamic religious festival, Ramadan lately, which started at the beginning of March, with the streets of London being lit up in celebration and supermarkets acting like it’s a big thing for us all. Tesco, Asda and the other big supermarket chains have introduced 'Ramadan' aisles and, for the first time, Morrisons unveiled an Islamic advent calendar for children, counting down the days until Ramadan.
But there’s another religious festival just about to start, just as important to its adherents as Ramadan is to Muslims, which oddly enough, in a nominally Christian country attracts barely any attention. It is, of course, Lent, which starts today. The word comes from the Old English lencten – lengthen, also the word for Spring, and honours the 40 days and nights following Christ’s baptism, when He went into the wilderness, without water and food, and was tempted by Satan. Historically Christians tried to emulate what Christ did, wrestle with temptation, traditionally by giving something up, often fasting.
The period of self-denial is preceded by Shrove Tuesday (from Old English scrifan penance, hear confession; originally "to write") which is traditionally associated with food, especially sweet foods containing eggs, sugar, and fat, which were commonly forbidden during Lent and would otherwise go to waste in the six and a half weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter, hence its common name, Pancake Tuesday.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, 46 days before Easter Sunday and is a 40-day period of repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration, excluding Sundays. The purpose of the Lenten season is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ—to consider his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection.
When I was a lad, it was common to see folk wandering around with a cross marked on their face with wood ash. I’ve not seen that for years.
It was also common to give something up for Lent; meat being a favourite, but extremists might also forego booze and sex. I’m not going to let on what I’m going to give up for Lent, but I am going to Fast. In fact, I’ve been challenged to fast for three full days, 72 hours, starting at teatime today. I should have started yesterday, but today’s my birthday and ZYY wants to give me a treat, and her being Chinese this involves eating.
Can I do it? I’ll let you know.