Lent: Why do we do it?

Probably the main reason people give things up are health reasons. The things we give up - chocolate, crisps, alcohol, caffeine - are things that are universally seen as unhealthy. Many of us give things up for Lent in a bid to get fit, or just lose weight. Lent comes at a perfect time of year for this - those hoodies are beginning to come off to reveal the winter spread, and the threat of baring all on a beach is definitely on the horizon. Lent is the one time when I can manage to stick to something resembling a diet (if only vaguely) for a month or two. Combine that with my one non food-related Lent pledge - to do 20 sit ups per day - and I will be bikini ready in no time. Hopefully.

Yet, like Eve in Eden, we crave those things we can't have. The minute chocolate becomes the forbidden fruit, it's all we want you eat. Everywhere you go, you see people eating it, smell it, and there are never any cakes in Vanbrugh without chocolate chips. Yet chocolate, I'd expect to crave. I usually eat it daily. But even those things we only eat rarely we long for as soon as we can't have them.

Normally, I only have crisps about once a week. Yet now, every lunchtime I see them and want some. And if, as soon as Lent is over, I dive headlong into a large bag of Thai sweet chilli crisps, probably only the same amount as I'd have eaten during Lent, am I actually doing myself any good? Furthermore, we find ourselves replacing what we'd normally eat with other, equally bad foods. Instead of crisps, chips take the stage. I replace my after lunch chocolate cake with a lemon one instead. So if it is healthily dubious, then why bother giving things up at all?

For a few people, I'm sure, it is a religious reason. After all, Lent is a religious festival, and no doubt, most Christians give something up out of genuine religious convictions. The Yorker spoke to one girl who said that she gives things up partly for the traditional religious reasons. She said "there are a number of positive things for me to be gained from observing Lent. I suppose I see it as having important religious significance". Yet she also stressed other reasons, and many of us would never consider that by giving something up for Lent we were following in Jesus' footsteps. So what motivates the atheists among us?

Several people give things up for monetary reasons. We spoke to one person who has given up buying food from expensive campus eateries, opting instead to make packed lunches each day. Stephen Holgate, one of the students taking part in the University's trip to climb Kilimanjaro this summer, has given up alcohol for Lent. He told The Yorker that "All the money I don't spend on alcohol will go into my fundraising total. It's mainly for the money, but also for the health benefits. And doing it at this time is just a good excuse to cut down."

But this doesn't explain why we do it at this time. Why not give things up for a New Year's Resolution, or for one term? For me, the 40 days of Lent is a perfect timescale. It's long enough to make a difference to our health or purse, if we're determined enough, but Easter is there, far enough away to feel a challenge, but definitely on the horizon.

Another big part of Lent is the companionship element of it. This year, in my foolishness, I have given up snacking of all descriptions, as well as chocolate and crisps. When I see a friend tuck into a huge gooey slice of chocolate cake, or help themselves to a hot cross bun mid morning, a quick whinge will prompt them to assure me they're suffering too - maybe they're living vegetarian for 40 days, or have given up caffeine. There is a definite feeling of a 'club' - those tough enough to give something up for Lent, and for many of us, the worry of no longer being part of that is what keeps us going. We want to show that we too have the strength to struggle through.

For me, Lent is a healthy thing. Even if it doesn't affect our bodily health as much as we hope, it is still a time of year when mind can outdo matter, if only for a brief period. For 40 days we manage to restrain ourselves from our usual gluttony. But, and this is the beauty of it, as soon as the Easter Bunny comes hopping along, we can all gorge ourselves silly, knowing that we have thoroughly earned it.

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.