The first step was to add Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the "paschal fast," to make 36 fasting days. Since Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days after his Baptism, Christians in the fifth century wanted literally 40 days of penance before Easter. So only 34 of the 40 days were for fasting. But the council also forbade fasting, kneeling, and any other acts of sorrow and penance on Sundays, even in Lent. At that time Lent began on the sixth Sunday before Easter and ended at dusk on Holy Thursday-40 days. Officially since 1970, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sunset on Holy Thursday.Īlready at the Council of Nicea in 325 the bishops spoke of the quadragesima paschae (Latin for "40 days before Easter") as the well-established custom. Over the course of history, the season of preparation for Easter Sunday has ranged from one day (in the first century) to 44 (today in the Roman church). "The 40 days of Lent" has always been more of a metaphor than a literal count. If Lent is 40 days, why are there 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter?