On Good Friday the traditional color is black to signify Christ’s death until the Saturday night vigil when it is changed to white in time for Easter morning to proclaim His resurrection. Lent starts on the seventh Wednesday before Easter and ends 40 days later. Lent is believed to have been celebrated as early as the 4th Century in the early years of the church. Many of the reformist Christian groups dropped the practice as part of the Roman Catholic liturgies that were seen to be biblical. The rite of Ash Wednesday developed in the medieval times and it is marked by placing a mark of the cross on the forehead using ash. This would be the ash left over after burning the palm branches used during Palm Sunday celebrations of the previous year. Ash was a form of penitence for inherent sin, mourning for the death that is inevitable for all. The church interior would also appear differently during lent. Where by the colours of the draping used at the Alter are changed to Purple or black to signify Christ’s passion and suffering for our sins but are also royal colours to prepare for the risen king. On Good Friday the traditional color is black to signify Christ’s death until the Saturday night vigil when it is changed to white in time for Easter morning to proclaim His resurrection. During the Lent period, the faithful perform a salutary night of abstinence by fasting on Ash-Wednesday as an act of repentance and on Fridays as a way of recognizing the death and crucification of Christ. This is marked by giving up some of the pleasures of the flesh, notably meat, alcohol, favourite dishes among others. Today Christians choose what they will sacrifice for the Lent period. Christians also perform acts of mercy both physical and spiritual, like giving Alms and praying for others. Lent climaxes on Holy Thursday with the celebration of the Last Super, that occurred the day before Christ was crucified. This leads up to Holy Saturday when vigils are traditionally held. Easter Sunday is of course a day of jubilation to mark the Resurrection of Christ. martin.bishop18@yahoo.com
