When is Lent? Details to know about fasting; Ash Wednesday and Easter dates

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
Updated ·2 min read
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Christians will find themselves celebrating love and sacrifice on the same day.

Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday fall on the same day, Wednesday, Feb. 14, this year. The occasion may lead some to question if they can eat chocolate or if they should be fasting on the holiday of love and friendship.

Ash Wednesday is also the start of the Lenten season, a six-week period observed by Christians in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Many Catholic churches will have services and dispositions of ashes throughout the day.

Here is what to know about Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day this year.
Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day this year.

What is Lent?

Lent is celebrated over 46 days. It includes 40 days of fasting and six Sundays, on which fasting is not practiced. It helps prepare Christians for the celebration of Easter. Easter is a joyous day that marks when Jesus Christ was resurrected.

Easter Sunday 2024

Lent culminates with Easter Sunday, which will be observed on March 31, 2024.

The date is different every year and falls on the first Sunday of the first full moon after the vernal equinox, also called the Paschal Full Moon.

Can Christians enjoy chocolate on Ash Wednesday?

La Madeleine restaurants has heart-shaped cheesecakes with a chocolate ganache available for Valentine's Day celebrations.
La Madeleine restaurants has heart-shaped cheesecakes with a chocolate ganache available for Valentine's Day celebrations.

Christians can enjoy chocolate on Ash Wednesday.

Can Catholics eat meat on Ash Wednesday?

No. Catholics are not supposed to eat meat on Ash Wednesday. They also are expected to give up meat on Fridays during Lent.

Catholics also are expected to fast on Ash Wednesday. Fasting means consuming only one full meal a day; two smaller meals that don't add up to a full meal are also allowed.

Children and the elderly are exempt from the fasting requirement on Ash Wednesday and during Lent.

Where to get ashes for Ash Wednesday

St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N. Mesa Street, will have Mass with disposition of Ashes at 7 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

St. Pius Catholic Church, 1050 N. Clark Dr., will have Mass at 7 a.m. and 12:15, Liturgy of the Word at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 602 S. Oregon St., will have Mass at 8 and 5 p.m. The priests will be administering ashes throughout the day as groups form, starting at 7 a.m.

More: Pope approves blessings for same-sex relationships if the rituals don't resemble marriage

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com, @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on TikTok. The Delaware News Journal and Cincinnati Enquirer contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Lent 2024 dates: Ash Wednesday begins Feb. 14, Easter is March 31