For Christians, Ash Wednesday begins Lent. But what is Lent?
It is a period of 40 days that establishes the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, which runs from Ash Wednesday (which this year is February 22) to Holy Thursday (April 6) in Holy Week.
This time is very important for those who profess the Catholic faith, since these 40 days culminate with the celebration of Easter, where Jesus Christ is resurrected. In addition, during this period Christians practice fasting and abstinence, stopping eating red meat and fasting on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays. within Lent. Here we tell you some curiosities about this time:
1. The origin of stopping eating red meat at this time lies in some Catholic scriptures, where it is believed that this meat is the ''meat of sin''. Interestingly, this belief is due to the fact that red meat is related to the crucified body of Jesus Christ.
< p>2. Lent lasts 40 days since it comes from several biblical references and symbolizes the test of Jesus by living 40 days in the desert. It also coincides with the 40 days of the Great Flood and the 40-year march of the Israelite people through the desert.3 . The fast established by the Church does not refer to not eating any food all day, but to eating a single meal on both Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
4. In the Middle Ages, food during this time of penance was based only on oil soup, bread and water.
5. Lent does not last exactly 40 days, but rather exceeds that number; since to obtain that number of days you must add the days from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter Sunday, and subtract the six Sundays.