Lent is a traditional time of mourning and repentance in which Christians prepare to celebrate Easter by prayer, fasting, and charity.
When is Lent and how long is it?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and Ends on either Maundy Thursday or on Easter Eve, depending on the tradition.
Lent is 40 days, although the time from Ash Wednesday to Easter is actually 46 days. Why? Because Sunday counts as a “mini-Easter” and isn’t considered part of the Lenten fast.
So to determine when the first day of Lent is we count back from Easter 46 days. To do that we have to know when Easter is. That’s easy. First Sunday after the first full moon of the vernal equinox. Not so easy? Check this out