What to give up for Lent? Booze, chocolate, sex — and Lent itself — among top choices
Although rooted in ancient Christian practice, the idea of “giving something up for Lent” permeates American popular culture.
Witness the Twitter Lent Tracker operated for a decade by OpenBible.info. The index tracks the number of mentions of Lent or “giving up” something during the week of Ash Wednesday — which is today — and compiles a Top 100 ranking.
In 2019, No. 1 on the list of the forgone (1,529 tweets) was social networking.
Rounding out the Top 10 were:
2. Alcohol
3. Twitter
4. Chocolate
5. Lent
6. Meat
7. Swearing
8. Coffee
9. Soda
10. Sex
Other top things given up that cracked the Top 10 in previous years include:
• Fast food
• Chips
• School
• Marijuana
Top categories, based on number of tweets, include: food, social media/technology, habits, smoking/drugs/alcohol, relationships, school/work, sex, religion and politics.
Why do people give things up for Lent?
The answer is shrouded in antiquity but has something to do with the way candidates for baptism prepared for the Easter vigil in the early days of Christianity.
By the fourth century, the 40-day fast was common enough to be mentioned in the canons of the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325). Writing around the same time, St. Athanasius said, “Anyone who neglects to observe the 40-days fast is not worthy to celebrate the Easter festival.”
Over the centuries, the fast has been relaxed, but the idea of giving something up — even if it is not food — has had staying power.
In the Roman Catholic Church, fasting is most rigorous on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with abstinence from meat prescribed for every Friday of Lent. Hence, the popular reliance on Lenten seafood specials at grocery stores and fish fries at churches and local fire halls (among other places). (Click here for the Tribune-Review’s updated fish fry tracker and map.)
Byzantine Catholics observe a more strict fast, abstaining from meat, eggs and dairy products on the first Monday of Lent and Good Friday, and from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent, according to the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
Orthodox Christians observe a fast of no animal products. This year, Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, falls on April 19 — a week after Western Easter (April 12).
Fasting practices for Protestants who observe Lent vary.
When does Lent begin?
The starting day of Lent also differs across the Christian traditions. Ash Wednesday, reflecting the penitential character of the whole Lenten season, is the start of Lent for Roman Catholics and some Protestants.
Ash Wednesday and the imposition of ashes are not part of the Byzantine Catholic or Orthodox Christian traditions. Byzantine Catholics begin Lent on the Monday before Ash Wednesday.
This year, Orthodox Christians begin Lent with Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday (March 1).
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.
