Forty days of Lent & fasting

The season of Lent lasts for 40 days, during which time many Christians fast. Some don’t eat meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. Others will give up something that they normally eat or do all the time.

“Lent may be one of the oldest Christian seasons and is one of the two traditional periods of repentance within the Christian calendar,” said Dr. Michael Davidson, assistant professor of history.

Christians have observed Lent in one form or another since at least the second century, but originally Lent was not 40 days long, said Davidson.

He explained that, years ago, people who were being baptized or receiving confirmation to become a Christian practiced a strict 40-hour period of fasting. This fasting began on Good Friday and went into Easter, which was their baptism. 

“This corresponded with the 40 hours during which Jesus, by tradition, lay in his tomb. Eventually this period was extended throughout the entire Easter week,” said Davidson. “In the fourth century, the period was extended to 40 days, corresponding with the period of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, and became common practice among all Christians.”

Today, many people from different forms of Christianity and diverse backgrounds still practice Lent. This is why Rifkin Cafe, located on the first floor of the Henry Student Center, has a list of various non-meat meals that can be ordered on Wednesdays or Fridays.

Bea Kopec, a cashier at Rifkin Cafe, explained that, although the list is designed for Lent, anyone can order those items on any day.

Egg salad, a cheese quesadilla, eggplant parmesan sub and tuna salad are just some of the meals that you can purchase during Lent. The full list can be found in Rifkin Café on the glass divider, where orders are placed.

The cafeteria is also offering a special menu for Lent. According to Michael Molnar, general manager of Sodexo, the cafeteria offers more non-meat or fish items on Ash Wednesday and Fridays throughout Lent.

“Every day we offer a vegetarian option or the salad bar, but those days are not entirely meatless days,” said Molnar. 

Molnar explained that if anyone from any religion at any time made it known that they had a reasonable special preference then the cafeteria would try to honor that person’s request.

Today, most Catholics, and even some people who are not Catholic, give up meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent.