1. YOU FEAST ON FAT TUESDAY
On Fat Tuesday you tend to overindulge. Even when I was in school we would have a huge party and stuff our faces with sweets, king cake, and soda. Typically this is because people often give up their favorite treats during Lent for 40 days.
2. PICKING SOMETHING TO GIVE UP
The feat of picking something to give up is no easy task. As I have gotten older I have realized that it would benefit me more as a person to DO something rather than give something up. This could be anything from going to a soup kitchen once a week to helping out your parents more and having more chores. Something that will make yourself a better and more well rounded person.
3. YOU GET ASHES
On Ash Wednesday, you go to Mass and receive ashes. Yes, people who are not Catholic often stare at you and make you feel like you are two inches tall. You typically get questioned and asked what is going on with your forehead. The priest puts them on your forehead and says, "Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust." We came into this world one way and we will leave it the same way.
4. YOU CAN'T EAT MEAT
On Fridays of Lent, you are not supposed to eat meat. This is to symbolize all that Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and is a small sacrifice that we give up once a week. It is not asking much for us to refrain from eating meat on a Friday when Jesus was nailed to the cross and killed to save us from sin.
5. EASTER IS A BIG CELEBRATION
After the 40 days is up, you get back anything you gave up! Those 40 days gave us a time to reflect on our past actions and learn from our mistakes so we can "start over" and make ourselves better people. Easter is almost like a "New Year's" because we made resolutions and want to uphold them.
