From 18 February to 2 April 2026, the period of Lent will be taking place. Despite being a Christian observance, many non-Christians also participate. The extent to which anyone (Christians and non-Christians alike) observe Lent, and the ways in which they do it, fluctuates from year to year.
In 2023 it was found that only five per cent of the United Kingdom population gave something up for Lent. This is a seven per cent decline from 2012. Although the statistical decline is clear, the period continues to be a part of the UK’s cultural calendar, marked in many diaries and used as an indicator for the passing of the year.
The 40 days of Lent are rooted in Christian beliefs and traditions. The most common association is connection to the forty days of temptation and fasting that Christians believe Jesus endured in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. However, it is also attributed to Old Testament stories such as the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert.
In Christian traditions, for the denominations that observe the period, it is a time of reflection, penance, and spiritual growth, which is lived through the practice of fasting and abstinence. Traditional sacrifices during the Lent period include sweets, alcohol, and meat. In the 2023 survey, 50 per cent of those participating in Lent gave up chocolate and sweets, while 17 per cent gave up drinking and pub attendance.
Participation in lent varies between age groups. An online poll found that 18 to 24 year olds were the most participatory, with 30 per cent stating they planned to observe the season. The extent to which those participating are doing so for religious reasons is debated, so why are the younger generations engaging with this ancient practice more than their older relatives?
One central reason for participating in Lent is to build a new habit or break old patterns. The rise of various challenges such as the 75 hard programme which requires its participants to complete specific daily tasks for 75 consecutive days without any cheat days or modification makes it clear that there is a desire to engage in periods of self-control and restraints. It could be suggested that people use Lent in a similar manner to this.
The exact duration that is required for a habit to be built varies. In a study published in 2008, Phillippa Lally studied 96 volunteers who chose an eating, drinking, or activity behaviour to carry out daily in the same context, found that it can take between 19 to 254 days. This contradicts the myth that it takes 21 days. This means that for those who participate in Lent for non-religious reasons, there is a chance that in this period they could build new habits.
The timing of Lent shifts every year along with the date of Easter. It is determined by the Lunar cycle, preceding the date of Easter, which occurs on the Sunday following the first Full Moon after the Spring equinox. In many diaries and calendars, the period will already be marked in – starting with Shrove Tuesday and ending in Easter Sunday.
Aside from diet and exercise culture, the appeal of Lent to both the secular and religious populations of the UK could be connected to the desire to live seasonally. If you are on social media, you will know that people are increasingly integrating seasonal living, moving with the changing months and the moon cycle into their lifestyles. Given the miserable weather the UK is experiencing right now, it may not be surprising if people view this season as a step towards spring and towards brighter days.
The latest census for England and Wales found that Christians composed 46.2 per cent of the population. In Scotland this number was lower, at 38.8 per cent of the population. It is therefore likely that many who observe Lent do so for non-religious reasons. Even when lent is practiced, it is on a different scale and in a way that is different to how it would have been observe centuries ago. How can we understand Lent aside from its religious roots? Whether it is driven by faith, fitness, or the hope of spring, Lent continues to evolve as a part of life and remains embedded in UK culture.
Illustration by Sal Mulvhill for The Student