The Christian church observes Lent as a penitential period leading up to Easter. The fasting and abstinence period begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and lasts for 40 days (Sundays are excluded) in imitation of Jesus Christ's fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.

Roman Catholic, Lutherans, Anglicans, Moravian's, United Protestant, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Methodists all celebrate Lent...