Probably the most famous part of the Lent fast is the giving up of food. This is, of course, a part of Lent, but self-deprivation is not Lent’s end goal. This practice is driven first and foremost by the desire to re-orient oneself back to God – to re-focus one’s mind on Christ and His Example. Consequently, in giving up certain (or even all) foods, Christians are focusing on turning away from sins such as gluttony and lust. By temporarily abstaining from food, Christians strive to improve their self-control and spiritual discipline.
Lent is not the only time of year that Christians fast. Both historically and currently, many Christians (particularly Orthodox Christians and Catholics) will fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. There is also a parallel 40-day fast in the run-up to Christmas (known as the Nativity Fast), which practically is kept in a very similar way to Lent. However, Lent has always maintained a particularly high significance to Christian faith life because of its association with the most significant Christian holy day: Easter.
The choice of 40 days of fasting for Lent is not accidental – the number 40 has a notable significance in the Bible related to fasting. Moses did not eat or drink for 40 days and nights while he received the 10 Commandments (Exodus 34:28), and Elijah also fasted for 40 days and nights while travelling to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19: 7-8). Perhaps most famously, Jesus Christ abstained from food and drink for 40 days and nights in the wilderness, shortly before he was tempted by the Devil ahead of Christ beginning his earthly ministry (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4: 1-2).
Based on this Biblical inspiration, a practice of fasting among early Christians began to develop – the Book of Acts references fasting in the Early Church (Acts 13:2-3; 14: 21-23). As early as the 1st century Didache, early Christians were advised to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Early Christians were also beginning to keep a “Black Fast” (a fast abstaining from all food and drink) in the build-up to Easter. Gradually, the most common fast became a fast from blood, which essentially meant a fast from meat, dairy, wine, and olive oil (the latter two because, in ancient times, they would have been stored in animal skins).
Today, the ways in which Christian’s mark Lent can vary considerably depending on the tradition being followed. The Black Fast is still observed by some Christians during Lent, notably by the Coptic Orthodox Church. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians will traditionally keep a fast from blood to this day, essentially being vegan (and cutting wine and olive oil) for the duration of Lent. Historically, the Catholic Church has kept Lent similarly to the Orthodox Church; however, the Catholic focus now is voluntary fasting. A particular point of Catholic emphasis has been on abstaining from meat, with fish being exempt – this has led to an emphasis on fish consumption among fasting Catholics. Several Protestant groups, including Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, and the Moravian Church, also observe fasting during Lent.
No matter how Christians fast, they all do so with the same goal – rejecting worldly temptations and striving towards closeness with God and spiritual discipline. In this, there is something that we can all admire, even if we are not religious.
Written by Nikita Zychowicz (he/him).
