When does Lent 2018 end and when did it start?

Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and the day holds great importance for Christians around the world as it marks the start of Lent or the Lenten season.

Ash Wednesday takes place after Shrove Tuesday and this day involves Christians eating up all of the rich foods in their cupboards to make way for the Lenten season where they fast or give up certain things, such as chocolates and sweets.

For 40 days Christians go through a period of fasting which is to remember the same amount of time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.

Lent is traditionally marked with fasting, abstinence and prayer.

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the tradition of marking the shape of a cross on the forehead of those attending church services and its official name is ‘Day of Ashes’ For those wondering when the end date is for this period of time, we bring you the details here.

When does Lent end? There are different times for when Lent finishes according to geography.

The day of Lent changes every year in accordance with the lunar calendar, similar to Easter Sunday. For some Lent will run up until the Thursday before Easter Sunday, March 29, which is known Maundy Thursday.

However, for Western churches the 40-day period of Lent ends on Holy Saturday (March 31), the day before Easter. Meanwhile, Eastern churches believe it ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday (March 23).