Lent 2024


When is Lent 2024?

Lent 2024 started on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 (42 days ago) and ends on Saturday, March 30th 2024 (in 2 days).  Calendar for 2024
Please note: There are different definitions for the duration of Lent. For details see the explanations below.
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What is Lent?

Lent celebrants participating in a street procession during Holy WeekLent celebrants participating in a street procession during Holy Week.
Lent, or the Lenten season, is the annual period of Christian observance that precedes Easter. The dates of Lent are defined by the date of Easter, which is a movable feast, meaning that it falls on a different date each year. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and its observance (although not its liturgical period, as Sundays are not fast days and are therefore not counted – see below) lasts for 40 days, mirroring the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before starting his ministry. It can also be seen to mirror the 40 hours that Jesus spent in the tomb prior to his resurrection.

Lent is a penitential period, involving the dual disciplines of abstinence and fasting. During Lent many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain foods, habits or luxuries - for example meat, cakes and sweets, alcohol, smoking - for its duration (the money saved is often then donated to charity). This is done both as a form of penitence and as a spiritual tool to tame the body and 'sharpen the spirit' for prayer, reflection and contemplation in preparation for the celebration of Easter.

Lent lasts for 40 days and the first day is always Ash Wednesday (the day after Shrove Tuesday). Nevertheless, there is often confusion as to when Lent ends! This is partly due to the fact that there are in fact always 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, and partly due to confusion between the period of the Lenten fast and the liturgical 'season' or period of Lent.

The Lenten Fast (which is the period that most people consider to be 'Lent') starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (not to be confused with Easter Saturday, the Saturday after Easter). This is a period of 46 days. However, the six Sundays within the period are not fast days (Sundays are always feast days in the Christian calendar) and therefore not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

The liturgical period of Lent also begins on Ash Wednesday, however it ends on the evening of Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday). In addition, Palm Sunday (or alternatively the day before Palm Sunday) is sometimes considered to be the last day of Lent. This is incorrect and based on a misunderstanding about the liturgical periods of Lent and Holy Week. They are not exclusive of each other, and Lent in fact continues into Holy Week (see above), meaning that the liturgical season of Lent ends on Holy Thursday.

Purple is the color most associated with Lent - during this period purple church vestments (altar cloths and the priests' liturgical garments) are used. The purple is symbolic in two ways: it is the traditional color of mourning (recalling Jesus' death) and also symbolic of royalty (celebrating Christ's coming as King).

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity Lent is called 'Great Lent' and is the most important fasting period of the year, in preparation for the most important celebration of the year, Pascha (Orthodox Easter Sunday). As in Western Christianity, the period of Lent differs in its dates from year to year, with the dates defined by the date of Pascha, which is a movable feast. Great Lent begins on Clean Monday (the beginning of the 7th week before Pascha) and runs for 40 days (including Sundays) until Lazarus Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday). Fasting continues until the morning of Pascha.

In Eastern Christianity Lent starts on Clean Monday (also called Pure Monday, Monday of Lent or Green Monday), the 6th Monday before Palm Sunday. It is sometimes referred to as Ash Monday by analogy with Ash Wednesday, even though only few Eastern Churches practice the imposition of ashes.

Further reading:

When is Lent 2025?

Lent 2025 starts on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (in 342 days) and ends on Saturday, April 19th 2025 (in 387 days).  Calendar for 2025

Dates for Lent in other years

The next occurrence of Lent is marked in red.

Year Lent starts on Lent ends on
Lent 2019      Wednesday, March 6, 2019      Saturday, April 20, 2019
Lent 2020      Wednesday, February 26, 2020      Saturday, April 11, 2020
Lent 2021      Wednesday, February 17, 2021      Saturday, April 3, 2021
Lent 2022      Wednesday, March 2, 2022      Saturday, April 16, 2022
Lent 2023      Wednesday, February 22, 2023      Saturday, April 8, 2023
Lent 2024      Wednesday, February 14, 2024      Saturday, March 30, 2024
Lent 2025      Wednesday, March 5, 2025      Saturday, April 19, 2025
Lent 2026      Wednesday, February 18, 2026      Saturday, April 4, 2026
Lent 2027      Wednesday, February 10, 2027      Saturday, March 27, 2027
Lent 2028      Wednesday, March 1, 2028      Saturday, April 15, 2028
Lent 2029      Wednesday, February 14, 2029      Saturday, March 31, 2029
Data provided 'as is' without warranty

Lent 2024
Dates of Lent 2024 and surrounding years as downloadable image file

Printable 2024 Calendars for Word, Excel and PDF


Calendar templates 2024 for Word, Excel and PDF

Free printable 2024 calendar templates

A selection of downloadable, printable calendar templates for 2024 with US federal holidays, suitable for a variety of applications. Available for Word, Excel and PDF.


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