10 things you didn’t know about Lent

In a country as Catholic as Mexico, Lent is one of the most important events of the year. It is a preparation period of 40 days before Easter celebrations, and even if you think you know everything about this period, here are 10 things you didn't know about Lent. 1. Officially, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends just before the evening of Holy Thursday. 2. The duration of forty days comes from various biblical references and symbolizes Jesus' trial of living for 40 days in the desert before his public mission. It also symbolizes the 40 days of the flood, as well as the 40 years of the Israelites' march through the desert and the 400 years of the Jews' stay in Egypt. 3. The practice of fasting and abstinence during Lent dates back to the 4th century. 4. The ashes placed on the forehead on Ash Wednesday symbolize the destruction of past mistakes, as in being turned to dust, we can redeem ourselves and be better. 5. Food abstinence is not required by the church; it is only requested that one meal be made each day on both Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 6. In Mexico, the consumption of fish and seafood doubles during these dates. Every Friday that falls within Lent, the demand for seafood products triples due to the abstinence from red meat. 7. In the Middle Ages, the penitential diet during Lent was based on oil soup, bread, and water, nothing more. 8. The 40 days of Lent are associated with a substantial improvement in the health of the average North American population. General cholesterol decreases and less concerning obesity rates have been recorded. 9. The days of Lent are not exactly forty if we add the Sundays that fall within it. If one counts the days from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter Sunday and subtracts the six Sundays, it will total exactly forty. 10. Interestingly, during the 40 days of Lent, which should be a time for reflection and penance, some of the largest carnivals in the world take place. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is one example. Lenten Recipes Salmon with Creamy Lemon Sauce Salmon Tartare Chipotle Shrimp with Cream Linguini with Shrimp, Lemon, and Garlic Did you know these facts about Lent?