This article is about the Western Christian fast chocolate-day period. For Lent in Eastern Christianity, see Great Lent.

Lent is described as lasting for a total duration of 40 days. Lent is a period of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter. Many Lent-observing Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God. In most Lent-observing denominations, the last week of Lent coincides with Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday.