Lent Starts Tomorrow: What People in Louisiana Give Up

Lake Charles, LA [KNGT-FM] - Today marks the last day of the Mardi Gras season, which means starting tomorrow, it will be Ash Wednesday and mark the beginning of Lent.

Lent is a 40-day season in the Christian calendar dedicated to prayer, reflection, and sacrifice, leading up to Easter Sunday. Its origins trace back to early Christianity, when new converts prepared for baptism with a period of fasting and spiritual discipline. The 40 days symbolize Jesus’ time of fasting in the desert, as described in the Gospels.

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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when many Christians receive ashes on their foreheads as a reminder of mortality and repentance, and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Traditionally, the season encourages giving up certain pleasures, fasting, and increasing acts of charity to grow spiritually and focus on God.

In Louisiana, a state with deep Catholic roots, Lent is widely observed, especially during the Fridays of the season. Many give up meat, particularly red meat, in favor of fish, shrimpa other seafood, which is why there are many crawfish boils during this period. They also try to give up things like sweets, tobacco, alcohol, or social media, and more, as personal sacrifices

Top 10 Things People From Louisiana Give Up For Lent

• Alcohol (beer, wine, liquor)

• Soft drinks (Coke, Dr Pepper, Root Beer)

• Sweets & desserts

• Fast food

• Chocolate

• Coffee

• Smoking or vaping

• Talking about others/gossip

• Gambling

• Red Meat

• Complaining

In Louisiana, Lent often means balancing sacrifice with strong Catholic traditions, while still enjoying those Friday seafood boils.