Lent is a period of fasting that begins on Ash Wednesday. Representing Christ’s time in the wilderness, Ash Wednesday is a day marked by repentance, reflection and fasting.

While fasting rules used to be strictly followed with only one meal a day permitted and fish, eggs, and butter forbidden, these rules have become significantly less rigid today. Instead of fasting from meals, Christians may choose to take a break from various activities, such as watching television or using social media. The period of Lent ends on Easter Sunday.

Other “special days” including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are celebrated in the lead-up to Easter Sunday. Like Easter, these are known as moveable feasts, a holy day whose date is not fixed to a day in the calendar.

Palm Sunday occurs a week before Easter Sunday and celebrates Christ’s final arrival in Jerusalem. During Christ’s arrival, his followers used palm branches to honour him as King and Messiah, according to Christianity.com. To honour this, churches typically give out palm branches to their congregation on this day. 

The Thursday following Palm Sunday is Maundy Thursday. According to Britannica, this day commemorates Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper (the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before he was sentenced to hang on the cross). 

Maundy Thursday is followed by Good Friday and is a day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Christ. This is where Jesus willingly suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world as written in the Holy Bible.

Many Christians in the modern era choose to look Good Friday in joyful appreciation of the willing sacrifice Christ made to die on the cross. This is why the day is often referred to as ‘good’. Good Friday precedes Easter Day, the day Jesus was resurrected from death. 

Easter traditions vary depending on the Christian denomination. According to Singapore Infopedia, Easter Mass is held on Easter Sunday to “celebrate Christ’s resurrection and welcome new converts after baptism”. Many churches also have sunrise services to celebrate the “dawn of a new era ushered in by Christ’s resurrection”. Following church service, many would have meals with church members, family and friends. During this time, fellowship is strongly encouraged.

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