Nigerian Christians have joined others around the world to observe Ash Wednesday, marking the start of the Lenten season.
Lent is an important period in the Christian calendar. It lasts for 40 days, not counting Sundays, and focuses on prayer, fasting, penance, and giving to the needy. The season prepares Christians for Easter, which will be celebrated on April 20.
The 40 days of Lent reflect the time Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is a period of spiritual preparation, encouraging believers to reflect, sacrifice, and grow closer to God.
During Lent, many Christians choose to give up certain habits, like smoking or watching TV, or avoid certain foods and drinks such as sweets or coffee. Others may take on new spiritual practices like reading the Bible or spending more time in prayer.
For those who strictly follow Lent, meat is not eaten on Fridays, with fish often being the alternative.
In Catholic churches, Ash Wednesday is marked by the distribution of ashes, usually made from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday. These ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful as a reminder of their mortality with the words: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
The Lenten season, observed by different Christian denominations, is a time for self-examination and repentance, helping believers renew their faith and prepare their hearts for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.
