Thank you, lovely question-askers! I rounded up all of them and separated them into compact little categories so that I can dole them out periodically over the next handful of weeks. I know, the suspense is killing. Without further ado —
Are you giving up anything for Lent? If so, what? If not, if you were to give something up, what would it be? (This is strangely fascinating to me because I have never given up anything for Lent in my life.)
I thought I should address this question first, since we are knee-deep in Lent at this point. Better late, right?
Raised as a conservative Baptist in my small Connecticut town, I had never even heard of Lent, or giving anything up for it, until I started attending public school in the fourth grade. All of my Polish-Catholic classmates came in one day with ash smeared on their foreheads, bemoaning their lost television privileges and dinners consisting of Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. “For Lent, for Lent,” they explained, which was no explanation to me, whose Easter preparations involved helping Mom pick out a ham, trying on a new dress at Filene’s, going to Good Friday services, and discussing the Easter sermon over said ham. Since then, I’ve progressed into a Presbyterian (as my pastor jokes), and Lent still does not register on my radar. I know when it occurs, but it doesn’t have a place in my religious observances or behavioral pattern. So, to make a short answer long, no, I am not giving anything up. If pressed, I might go without browsing online retailers when I have no interest in buying. It only serves to feed any latent discontent.
That said, I am also fascinated with Lenten sacrifices, particularly when folks seem more likely to give up something during a period that does not apply to them religiously than to give up something for the new year. I can’t help but notice that, outside the context of religious piety, the two practices appear to be equally arbitrary, with the significant observation that Lent is a whole 326 days shorter than 2008. Maybe Lent is a good excuse to try out a life improvement, rather than going whole hog and committing for the entire year. Pick your poison, I guess.
8 comments
I don’t do lent either, and the rest of my response has nothing to do with lent. When your post came through my reader I was looking at this and, well, it’s perfect http://www.maryandmatt.net/store/cs.html
Lent is like the baby step version of a New Year’s resolution. Less permanent, easier to see the end of, and therefore easier to stick to.
I was raised Episcopalian (a.k.a. Catholic-Lite!) so you would think I may have heard of Lent, but it never really registered on my radar until one of my Catholic friends told me she was giving up candy for Lent and I was all “What? Why would you give up candy for anything?” Your childhood Easter preparations sound a lot like mine were, except we never bought a ham because we always went to my grandma’s for a lamb feast.
I have a Catholic friend at school who gave up drinking chai for Lent (it is like crack to her) and tried to coerce me into giving up caffeine with her. I was all, “hells no, crazy Catholic!” Jesus would definitely not want me for a sunbeam if I had to live without coffee or diet soda for more than a day.
I don’t do Lent either - and I find it hilarious when non-religious people go on about how they ‘have’ to give something up for Lent! What the?! Martyr much? I went to two Catholic high schools and they both encouraged us to give up something for Lent - I tried to give up Mass but unfortunately that’s not allowed.
I’m with Jess — it’s almost like NY resolution 2.0 for the year. A second chance!
I’m a Lutheran but I don’t do Lent. I’m not very good at giving up stuff, unfortunately.
BTW, loved the Commute Haiku on IB. How true, especially the part about the SUV.
I’m a Lutheran, and have always observed Lent in church (Wednesday evening services throughout Lent, holy week services, etc…). Giving up something for Lent was never part of my family’s tradition until my confirmation teacher suggested it in 9th grade. I’ve given something up every year since then.
Leave a comment