Question: Discuss Lent and Easter. Lent is the 40 days before Easter Sunday, and Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox (about Mar. 21). The custom of the Lenten or Spring Fast ("Lenten" is from the Anglo-Saxon word "lencten" which means "spring") developed slowly during the late 2nd and 3rd centuries. On Easter Sunday, special sermons eulogizing the resurrection of Christ are preached; sunrise services are conducted; multitudes of unknowing infants are sprinkled; many go to church for the one or two times they go each year. (Matt. 15:3,9,12-14; Gal. 4:9-11; Gal. 1:6-12; Col. 2:20-23). Mardi Gras: Ash Wednesday begins the 40 day Lenten season which is climaxed on Easter Sunday. The first day of importance in the traditional Catholic celebration of this season is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. "Shrove" refers to confession which is to be made before the 40 days of "fasting"begin. Shrove Tuesday is called in French, Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday" which is observed by Catholics and others as the last day of a carnival period of feasting and merry-making before the Lenten fasting begins. Mardi Gras really means, "Eat, drunk and live it up for tomorrow we must observe Lent." Ash Wednesday follows Fat Tuesday. Ash Wednesday is a reference to the pouring of ashes on the head as a public admission of penitence, both for the excesses and sins of Fat Tuesday and previous sins as well. Maundy Thursday is the Thursday immediately preceding Easter. "Maundy" comes from the French word "Mande," meaning "command," and has reference to the washing of the Apostles' feed by Christ on Thursday evening before His death, and the institution of the "Eucharist" (Lord's Supper). This is celebrated in a ceremony of washing the feet of the poor and partaking of the "Mass". Such foot-washing was traditionally practiced in this observance from the fourth century to 1754 when it was abandoned. Good Friday was originally "God's Friday" and is kept by Catholics and others as the anniversary of the crucifixion. Origin of Easter Easter was not observed by the Apostles of Christ nor Christians of the NT era; it is no part of the religion of Christ. The name "Easter" is merely the slightly changed English spelling of the name of the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian goddess Ishtar. The name "Easter" comes to us from the mythological writings of the ancient Teucrians (who lived 1200 BC along the southern coast of Palestine) where it is known as "Ostern." Webster's says "Easter is from the pre-historic name of a pagan spring festival. (See The Biblical World.86). The Easter tradition developed over a period of several centuries (late 2nd century to the 7th) with heated controversies surrounding the question of the proper date for its observance. The Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) set the day of its observance, but still controversy continued. (Source: Grover Stevens)