Lent

For protestants, Lent starts on February 6 and ends on March 22 excluding Sundays, which celebrate the Resurrection. Sundays are considered "feast days" and are not observed as "fast" days, or counted in the forty day total Lent is a period of fasting, self-examination and repentance. The 40-day length of the fast was established in the 4th century. Protestants see Lent as a time to draw closer to God in preparation of this annual celebration. It is a form of emulation of our Lord's example in His 40-day Fast in the wilderness, in preparation for his public ministry. One way to observe Lent is to "deny yourself" in some way regarding food and drink, temporarily "giving up" desserts, meat, a meal, or whatever you may choose, and to replace this with extra time devoted to prayer and Bible reading or study, or the reading of a Christian book. Information was obtained from http://prayerfoundation.org/lent_40_days_of_prayer_&_fasting.htm