If you are a Christian who is not familiar with this terminology. Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday. These are the 40 days in preparation of Easter.
It is a season of soul-searching and repentance. During Lent many make it a goal to give up some form of luxery as a form of penitence. Some even fast. The tradition of Lent is man-made but there are biblical roots that can be found in some scriptures in the bible.
For instance, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in
2 Sam 13:19
"And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the long robe which she wore; and laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went."
Esther 4:1-3
"When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; he went up to the entrance of the King's gate, for no one might enter the King's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, wherever the King's command and decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. "
Job 2:8
"And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. "
Daniel 9:3
"Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, O Lord, the great and terrible God, who keepest covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from thy commandments and ordinances; we have not listened to thy servants the Prophets, who spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. "
It is a season of soul-searching and repentance. During Lent many make it a goal to give up some form of luxery as a form of penitence. Some even fast. The tradition of Lent is man-made but there are biblical roots that can be found in some scriptures in the bible.
For instance, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in
2 Sam 13:19
"And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the long robe which she wore; and laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went."
Esther 4:1-3
"When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; he went up to the entrance of the King's gate, for no one might enter the King's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, wherever the King's command and decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. "
"And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. "
Daniel 9:3
"Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, O Lord, the great and terrible God, who keepest covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from thy commandments and ordinances; we have not listened to thy servants the Prophets, who spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. "
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