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Nigerian Christians have joined believers worldwide in observing Ash Wednesday, marking the official start of the Lenten season.
Lent, a key period in the Christian liturgical calendar, spans 40 days (excluding Sundays) and is dedicated to fasting, prayer, penance, and almsgiving. It leads up to Easter, which falls on April 20 this year.
The 40-day duration reflects the time Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, a period of spiritual preparation, sacrifice, and self-reflection.
During Lent, Christians engage in acts of self-denial, often giving up habits like smoking, watching TV, or consuming sweets, chocolate, or coffee. Many also take on spiritual disciplines such as increased prayer or Bible reading to deepen their faith.
Strict observers refrain from eating meat on Fridays, opting instead for fish. These practices are intended to strengthen faith and foster a closer relationship with God.
In the Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is marked by the distribution of ashes, a symbolic reminder that “they are dust and unto dust they shall return.”
The name “Ash Wednesday” originates from the tradition of blessing ashes—made from palm branches used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday service—and placing them on the foreheads of worshippers.
According to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he faced temptation. Lent developed as a way for Christians to mirror this experience in preparation for Easter.
