Ash Wednesday is an ancient tradition that marks the first day of Lent. It has a history of being a day of fasting as Christians prepare for the 40 days leading up to the celebration of Easter. Ash Wednesday can fall as early as Feb 4 or as late as March 10 and is generally observed by people of Protestant and Catholic faiths. Lent is also a time of repentance for Christians.
One long-standing Lenten tradition is that of the Fish Fry, which are often served on Friday nights. The fish fry became popular as an alternative to eating meat on Fridays during the season of Lent and was a tradition of Christians fasting on Fridays to recognize Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday. Fish has been associated with religious holidays even in pre-Christian times. Even McDonald’s joined in with the addition of its Filet-o-Fish to its menu in 1962 when a Cincinnati franchise in a Roman Catholic neighborhood was struggling to sell hamburgers on Fridays because people exercised the practice of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent.
Judy Larsén of Becker says: “Lent is a time of reflection on who Jesus is and what He did for us.” Judy recalled how when her family lived in Sweden, they served a special pastry just during the Lenten season.
Pastor Dave Johnson has been the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Becker for nineteen years and shared some thoughts about Lent: "Lent is an Old English (Lencten) word that means spring season, which makes me think of newness of life. Christ has brought us newness of life. Lent for Christians is a tradition of gathering for 40 days to focus on Jesus’ suffering and death. Yet, the good news is that we all have freedom from death because of Jesus’ death on a cross to save the world from sin through His resurrection on Easter.”
Becky Knick of Becker attends Grace Lutheran Church and describes the season of Lent as a celebration of Jesus’ victorious resurrection and a time of fellowship with other believers. Although many people tend to say they are giving something up for Lent, Becky encourages people to do something nice to bless others as an alternative.
Annette Aleshire of Clear Lake has many fond memories of the Lenten season while growing up. "My grandmother did a half day fast every day during Lent and a whole day on Friday, which meant tea and toast only and no meat. We had bigger meals on Sundays. My favorite Friday meal was ‘whale soup’, which was home canned tomatoes floating in milk with salt, pepper and dots of butter. The most sacred day was Good Friday. We fasted all day, but the best part was what my mother called the Three Hours of Silence. She would read the passion story from the Bible and then we couldn’t speak from noon to 3 p.m. to honor when the earth got dark as Jesus hung on the cross. We were allowed to write notes, but no speaking was allowed.” Annette recalls how important Easter was in their family. After church, they had a tradition of her mom making hot cross buns and a lamb shaped cake.
Ann Olson of Becker grew up Catholic. She said her family did not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and ate no meat on Fridays during Lent. “We only ate fish no matter what. We also gave something up. One year I gave up two of my favorite things - potato chips and chewing gum. I thought I was going to die! I was attending Catholic school and I told everyone because I knew it was the only way I wouldn’t cheat. Easter morning finally arrived. I barely had my eyes open and immediately put three pieces of gum in my mouth and started eating potato chips at the same time!”
I don’t have any interesting Lent stories. It is an important season to me.
My husband and I attended church on Ash Wednesday at our church in Paynesville and shared a meal before the service. Our pastor encouraged us to prayerfully ask the Lord to speak to us about one thing we can truly work on in our lives this Lenten season, rather than ‘giving something up' for Lent. Our pastor smudged ashes on parishioners’ foreheads in the shape of a cross, which was a first for me.
I heard on the news this week about some unconventional ways of people taking part in the Ash Wednesday religious custom of putting ashes on their foreheads. Some Minneapolis area churches offered ‘Ashes to go’ for busy parents and workers who were too busy to attend traditional Lenten services but still wanted to participate in the meaningful practice.
South Santiago Lutheran Church is urging their members to parcticipate in ‘40 bags in 40 days!’ They have asked members and community members to spend time each day during Lent and fill a bag with things you no longer need or use and donate it to charity. In this way people can give new life to it. The church is also collecting clothing, shoes, towels, blankets and toiletries for area charities.
I haven’t opted to ‘give anything up’ for Lent, but I am prayerfully considering ways to bless people this Lenten season.
