With Christmas a distant memory, the next tradition marked by Christians is Lent.

The six-week period before Easter begins on Ash Wednesday and will see people give up all sorts of things including alcohol, caffeine, smoking and favourite foods, particularly chocolate.

Traditionally, pancakes are eaten on the day before Ash Wednesday to use up rich, indulgent foods like eggs and milk before the 40-day fasting season of Lent begins - Shrove Tuesday.

The date varies from year to year, starting in either late February or early March.

The stretch then finishes at Easter.

What is Lent?

In the Christian calendar, Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter which is treated as a period of reflection and a time for fasting from food and festivities.

It symbolises the days which lead up to Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection when Christ spent 40 days and nights alone in the desert.

Pancakes!

When does Lent 2019 start?

Begins on Wednesday March 6 (also known as Ash Wednesday)

When does Lent 2019 finish?

This depends on where you are.

For Western churches the 40-day period of Lent ends on Holy Saturday (April 20), the day before Easter.

But the liturgical season of Lent ends two days earlier on Holy Thursday (April 18).

For Eastern churches it ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday (April 12).