Lent is mainly observed by many (but not all) Christians, especially churches with a more formal or liturgical tradition.

Who does Lent?

  • Roman Catholics.
  • Eastern Orthodox Christians (often calling it “Great Lent”).
  • Many Anglicans and Episcopalians.
  • Lutherans.
  • Some Methodists, Presbyterians, Moravians, and other Protestants that follow a church calendar.

Plenty of other Christians either do not keep Lent at all or treat it as optional, more like a personal spiritual practice than a requirement.

What are they actually doing?

During Lent, those who observe it typically focus on:

  • Fasting or giving something up (like certain foods, sweets, or entertainment).
  • Extra prayer or church services.
  • Charity and helping others (almsgiving).

A simple way to picture it: Lent is a 40‑day period before Easter where many Christians try to reset their spiritual life by cutting back, praying more, and doing extra good for others.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.