When Is Lent 2017 Ending? Easter Approaching As Fasting, Abstinence Season Nears End

After more than a month of abstinence and fasting, this year’s season of Lent is coming to an end — but when exactly?

Christians around the world observe the 40-day fast from food and abstinence from festivities to symbolize Jesus Christ’s 40 days of fasting in the desert after being baptized by John the Baptist, according to Roman Catholic Church’s catechism. Originally, Lent was known as “Quadragesima” — the Latin word for 40.

In the fourth century, Christians started observing the fasting season by abstaining from luxury foods such as meat, dairy products and eggs. Now, Roman Catholics avoid eating meat on all Fridays during Lent. However, Eastern Orthodox Christians follow stricter fasting rules by refraining from meat, eggs or dairy products on all days. However, they can eat fish on Palm Sunday.

Every year, the day Lent begins and ends changes according to the lunar calendar. This also holds true for Easter Sunday. For Western churches, the 40-day fasting period or abstaining from bad habits is a run-up to the Thursday, also known as the Holy Thursday, before Easter Sunday. However, some denominations consider Saturday — also called the Holy Saturday — before Easter Sunday as the last day of the Lent.

For Western churches, the Holy Thursday falls on April 13, while the Holy Saturday is on April 15. Lent ended for Eastern churches April 7, the Friday before Palm Sunday.

Several Christians also remain confused as to when the Lent season comes to an end. This is partially because there are 44 or 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday depending on when you consider the last of the fasting season. However, Sundays are not included in the 40-day period as Christians are forbidden from fasting on Sundays, which are days of worship and rest.

Apart from Roman Catholics, other western Christian groups that observe the Lenten season are Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Anglicans.