A young woman prays during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in February of 2010 in Washington, DC. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, repentance and fasting for many Christians.
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A young woman prays during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in February of 2010 in Washington, DC. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, repentance and fasting for many Christians.
Eyerusalem Solomon of Tacoma Park, Maryland, prays for Pope John Paul II in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in March of 2005 in Washington, DC.
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Eyerusalem Solomon of Tacoma Park, Maryland, prays for Pope John Paul II in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in March of 2005 in Washington, DC.
Pope Francis is pictured in a procession to the Basilica of Santa Sabina before leading the Ash Wednesday mass, which opens Lent, in March of 2019, in Rome.
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Pope Francis is pictured in a procession to the Basilica of Santa Sabina before leading the Ash Wednesday mass, which opens Lent, in March of 2019, in Rome.
Catholic priests hold palm branches at a Palm Sunday Easter procession.
Ash Wednesday’s changing tradition
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Susy Vazquez prays before a shadow that has formed what many think is the silhouette of the Holy Family -- Joseph and the Virgin Mary standing over the baby Jesus at St. Brendan Catholic Church's Adoration Chapel in September of 2007 in Miami, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Susy Vazquez prays before a shadow that has formed what many think is the silhouette of the Holy Family -- Joseph and the Virgin Mary standing over the baby Jesus at St. Brendan Catholic Church's Adoration Chapel in September of 2007 in Miami, Florida.
Are you ready to give up caffeine for 40 days? What about your social media accounts? While giving up those things may seem hard for you, Christians long ago used to give up a whole lot more.
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Are you ready to give up caffeine for 40 days? What about your social media accounts? While giving up those things may seem hard for you, Christians long ago used to give up a whole lot more.
Are you ready to give up caffeine for 40 days? What about your social media accounts? While giving up those things may seem hard for you, Christians long ago used to give up a whole lot more.
When priests mark Christian’s forehead the ashes they often say, “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Lent, which lasts 40 days not including Sundays, is a season of prayer, penance and fasting in preparation for the Easter season.
But the tradition has changed over the years. It’s less strict than it used to be.
How fasting has changed
Christians started to fast during Lent in the fifth to ninth centuries. They made it a tradition to remember and reflect on Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness.
Back then, they stuck to a strict tradition. People were forbidden to eat meat and fish and had to eat one meal a day.
Many Christians still fast today, but it’s different. Instead, they give up watching TV, social media accounts, drinking soda, alcohol or other pleasurable activities until the fasting ends on Holy Saturday.
