Dear friends,

Christians raised in a church that doesn’t follow the traditional liturgical calendar sometimes have  only a basic understanding of Lent — if they’ve even heard of Lent at all. So here is a basic primer for you.

Lent is the penitential season of the church year that leads into Holy Week, Good Friday, and The Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Sunday).

The season of Lent, as a formal period of penance and preparation for Easter, has been observed by the Christian Church in various forms since at least the early centuries of Christianity, with its roots traceable to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

However, its establishment as a 40-day season became more standardized by the 4th century.

Question: What is the significance of the 40 days of Lent in Lutheran practice?
Answer: The 40 days of Lent represent the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and resisting temptation in the wilderness, as described in Matthew 4:1-11. In Lutheran theology, this season is a time of repentance, reflection, and preparation for Easter, emphasizing Christ’s victory over sin and death.

Question: What color is traditionally used in Lutheran churches during Lent, and what does it symbolize?
Answer: The color purple is used during Lent in Lutheran churches. It symbolizes repentance, penance, and royalty, pointing to Jesus as the King who suffered and died for humanity’s salvation.

Question: Why do Lutherans traditionally begin Lent with Ash Wednesday?
Answer: Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent with the imposition of ashes, often in the shape of a cross, on worshippers’ foreheads. In Lutheran theology, this practice recalls human mortality ("dust you are, and to dust you shall return," Genesis 3:19) and calls for repentance as a response to God’s grace.

Question: What Lutheran teaching is emphasized during Lent regarding good works?
Answer: While our entire lives are lived in repentance, Lent is a special season of penitence and reflection. This is our preparation to fully honor the sacrifice of Christ on the cross on Good Friday and the joyfully celebrate the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday. Some people choose to observe Lent with a fast from something they enjoy or by engaging in extra sacrificial giving.

Question: Wait a minute! If Lent is 40 days, why is Ash Wednesday 46 days before Easter?
Answer: In the Lutheran Church, Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. The season of Lent spans 40 days (excluding Sundays) and begins on Ash Wednesday, focusing on repentance, reflection, and preparation for Christ’s resurrection. Holy Saturday, which falls on the evening before Easter, marks the conclusion of Lent as it transitions into the celebration of Easter Sunday, the day commemorating Jesus’ resurrection.

To break it down:

Ash Wednesday starts Lent, typically 46 days before Easter Sunday when counting calendar days.

Sundays during Lent are not included in the 40-day count because they are considered "little Easters," celebrating Christ’s resurrection even during the penitential season.

The 40 days of fasting and penance conclude on Holy Saturday (the Saturday before Easter), often observed with solemnity as the church reflects on Christ’s time in the tomb.

Easter Sunday, which follows immediately, begins the Easter season and is not part of Lent itself.

For example, in 2025, Easter Sunday is April 20. (Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, in case you are wondering.) Lent, then, beings on March 5 (Ash Wednesday) and ends on April 19 (Holy Saturday).

Much grace and peace to you!