In the early days of Christianity, Lent was only 36 days. That’s right—people in the 4th century were practically on vacation. But then Pope Gregory the Great said, “We need a full 40 days, because reasons,” and added Ash Wednesday to the roster.
40 Days Lent Countdown Calendar, 40 Days of Prayer Lent, Kids Lenten
And yet, even now, the Eastern Orthodox Church counts Lent as 40 days straight, including Sundays, but they also tack on a “Pre-Lent” period of three weeks. It’s like they’re running a marathon with a warm-up lap while the rest of us are still tying our shoes.
So the answer to “How many weeks?” depends on who you ask. Catholic? About six and a half. Orthodox? Eight weeks, if you count the pre-game. Protestant? You’re probably just checking your phone for Ash Wednesday memes.
What About the “Week” That’s Actually a Day?
Let’s talk about Holy Week. That’s the last week of Lent, starting with Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday (which isn’t actually in Lent, but it’s so close it’s like the credits rolling after a movie).
Holy Week feels like its own era: You’ve got Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then the big finale. Many people think Lent ends on Holy Saturday, but technically it ends at sunset on Holy Thursday. Nobody agrees on this, so just nod and pretend you know.
If you’re counting weeks on a calendar, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and runs through the Saturday before Easter. That’s 40 days of discipline, six Sundays of chocolate respite, and one giant headache for calendar nerds.
Lent 2026
