I’ve given up sweets, cakes and biscuits for Lent. Possibly a bad choice, and each year I get to about the halfway point and think that maybe next year I’ll give up something I don’t like as much.
But that’s not really the point. In fact, giving up things per se isn’t really the point. It’s more to do with doing some self-reflection and assessing your spiritual life, and doing something useful with the time or money that you save by giving things up.
I only found out a few weeks ago that the idea of giving up things for Lent is largely an Anglo-Catholic tradition. It’s not general practice in non-conformist churches – in fact, I’m not sure even that Lent is recognised as a season in all other denominations.
The season of Lent is a very sombre period. Here are some of the ways in which it may be marked – at least in the Anglican Church, which is where I have most of my experience. Not all churches will do all of these – a lot depends on local traditions.
- Social events are not held during Lent.
- Hymns and music are generally of a more sombre mood.
- “Alleluia” is not used.
- The Gloria is omitted from the Eucharist service.
- Figures of Christ and other religious symbols are covered up.
- Churches are not decorated with flowers.
- Church bells are not rung in the week before Easter – Holy Week. In fact, in my church, the bells are not rung until after the service on Easter Day.
Finally, can I let my inner-pedant out briefly to shout that the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday IS NOT EASTER SATURDAY. It is Holy Saturday. Easter Saturday is the Saturday of Easter week and so, like Easter Monday, falls AFTER EASTER.
I am also from the Anglo-catholic wing of the church. I chose to give up coffee this Lent, but for me Lent is not a sombre time, it is a time for spiritual reflection and training. This year, I have participated in the Bishop of Winchester’s Lent Course, entititled “Living the Mission of Jesus”. This has been a very thought-provoking and rewarding experience. I am also reading a book by Desmond Tutu entitled “God is not a Christian”.
At St Boniface, there is a weekly Lent Lunch (with restricted menu) – I suppose that does count as a social event, but money is raised for charity.
Generally at the sung Holy Eucharist services and at Evensong hymns and music are of a more sombre mood, although this sombreness is less pronounced than it once was. ‘Alleluia’ (normally said or sung before the Gospel reading) is not used in Lent, and the Gloria in excelsis is omitted. We sing a different and slightly more austere setting of the Sanctus and Agnus Dei during Lent.
There is no covering-up of figures of Christ and other religious symbols, but a large wooden cross is on display (this is decked out with daffodils on Easter Day), and on Good Friday the altar is bare. Symbols of the Passion are laid at the foot of this cross at the start of the 10.00 Eucharist on each Sunday in Lent. Flowers are generally avoided.
There is only one church bell and that is rung in Passiontide as at other times, to announce that a service is about to start. It is very true that the day between Good Friday and Easter Day is Holy Saturday. Some people call it Easter Eve (or occasionally it is Easter Even).
Interesting blog; Lent, along with Advent, are times when people tend to look to examine their spiritual lives and, of course, more widely, people do use these times to give things up; chocolate, caffeine etc. However, I tend not to give something up but try to use these periods to do something more! The giving things up is historic as it was and is traditionally a time of fasting; just as Jesus fasted during his time in the desert, which is the period Lent represents.
Lent is observed across most denominations of the church; although depending on tradition will dictate as to what is done during this time; in Anglo- Catholic churches, as you say, religious images of Christ and others are covered and in some churches weddings don’t take place during Lent. It very much depends on the tradition. For those traditions where robes are worn, purple is used.
A few years ago the (secular) choir that my father sings with took part in a radio broadcast of an Easter day service. The recording took place a few weeks before Easter, and the clergy was somewhat perturbed that they were singing hymns with “alleluia” in them when it was still Lent.