“Lent” comes from the old English word lencten, meaning “springtime,” probably connected with the lengthening of days in this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The season of Lent is a time for growth in faith—through prayer, spiritual discipline, and self-examination in preparation for the commemoration of the dying and rising of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In ancient Christian practice, Lent was a time of preparation for the celebration of Baptism at Easter. In many churches, it remains a time to equip and nurture candidates for Baptism or confirmation, and for the whole community of faith to reflect deeply on the theme of baptismal discipleship. Reconciliation is a key theme in the season of Lent—reconciliation with God and with one another through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Why 40 Days?

Lent is a period of forty days—like the flood of Genesis, Moses’ sojourn at Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, Jonah’s call of repentance to Nineveh, and Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness. The Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days, as every Lord’s Day is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection. (This is why we refer to them as Sunday in Lent rather than “Sundays of Lent.”) Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and concludes at sunset on Holy Saturday, at the start of the Great Vigil of Easter.

What do the different colors mean?

The liturgical color for the season of Lent is violet; however, the color is often changed from violet to rose for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday), just as it is for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday). Additionally, the color may change from violet to oxblood or “Passiontide Red” for the final week of Lent, which is known as Holy Week or Passion Week. The sanctuary is stripped of all decorations at the end of the Maundy Thursday liturgy, so Good Friday and Holy Saturday have no liturgical color (until after sunset on Holy Saturday at the Great Vigil of Easter).

Adapted from the Book of Common Worship (2018) of the Presbyterian Church (USA).