Imagine giving up that sweet cup of joe you have every morning or deleting all of your treasured social media apps off your phone for 40 whole days. To most students, that sounds nearly impossible.
But, for millions all around the world, that 40-day journey of abstaining from daily habits as a form of sacrifice is referred to as Lent.
Lent encompasses festivities most people know of but may have drawn a connection to. Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday are all important dates during which the faithful manifest their gratitude towards Jesus Christ. This year Lent began on March 5 and will end on April 19, or Holy Saturday.
“Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection,” according to the United Methodist Church website. “In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism.”
According to the United Methodist Church, today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to make sacrifices for their own faith or for others.
Beginning with Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, people enjoy their final day before beginning their days of “work” to honor Jesus. And on the following day, Ash Wednesday, the 40-day journey begins and those who choose to may refrain from something in their lives they have grown accustomed to. Those who undertake the challenge bore ash crosses on their foreheads on March 5, marking the beginning of their abstinence.
“The present fasting and abstinence laws are very simple: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the faithful fast (having only one full meal a day and smaller snacks to keep up one’s strength) and abstain from meat; on the other Fridays of Lent, the faithful abstain from meat. People are still encouraged ‘to give up something’ for Lent as a sacrifice,” said Father William P. Saunders, a pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls, Va., on www.catholiceducation.org.
John Oskam, president of the Cal State Long Beach Catholic Newman Club, said that Lent has been a practice of the Catholic church for centuries.
“It’s based on the time Jesus was drawn into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted three times by the devil,” Oskam said.
He said that during the 40 days of Lent that come before Easter, followers of Jesus symbolically travel with him into the desert and take some time to grow in holiness.
They do this in three ways: increasing prayer, charitable giving and fasting.
Oskam said the idea is to give up something that is contributing to your sins and prevents you from getting closer to God. Giving up a vice is probably the most popular thing to do, but it’s really important to do the other two things too.
“Some people say, ‘I’m giving up chocolate,’ Don’t give up chocolate, that’s so lame,” Oskam said.
It is interesting to see how many people choose to give something up and also to see what it is they have chosen to surrender for 40 days.
Alison Dorff, a senior health science major, said she chose to let go of sugary items and has found the bright side of leaving those sweet things behind.
“No ice cream, boba, cookies, cakes and all the good stuff,” Dorff said. “I have the biggest sweet tooth so I thought it would be a good challenge. In the beginning it was hard, it’s pure torture to watch friends and family eat sweets in front of me.”
Dorff said that her abstaining from sweets for the sake of lent has made healthier eating easier, and she plans to continue the lifestyle.
Students like Leslie Razo, a junior journalism major, have also found it tough to keep up with what they let go for Lent.
“I gave up energy drinks, because of my health and because I thought that I’d sacrifice something that I’m very used to,” Razo said. “It’s been pretty difficult but I know it’s worth it in the long run, it’ll save me money [and] keep me healthy.”
Razo grew up in a Catholic household and said Lent is a tradition for her and her family.
“My mom always took us to church,” Razo said. “Since we were children, traditions like these stayed with me.”
While many have gave up food or drinks this Lent, others have taken a different, more unique route in its observance.
Ania Bubienko, a senior fashion merchandising major, said that she celebrates lent because it’s a time to reflect and reconnect with oneself, loved ones and faith in preparation for Easter.
“I celebrate Lent because Jesus gave up his life for us; why can’t I sacrifice something or just try to be a better person if he could do so much for us,” Bubienko said.
Rather than giving up a material addiction, she said she is just working on improving as a person.
“I didn’t give anything up, I’m just working on being less of an angry person,” Bubienko said. “It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever chosen to do for Lent. Giving up junk food or your cell phone can be hard too, but I’m trying to change and improve as a person, which is a much greater challenge.”