I'm toying with giving up alcohol too. You can have Sundays off can't you?

I have a friend who gives up alcohol for Lent every year ... it's just such a loooooong time

I shall give up sweet stuff

She tells me not.... anyway Monday is a school day.  

Just found this;
Why are Sundays not counted in the 40 days?

Sundays are always a day of celebration in the Christian church and so they cannot be included in the 40 fast days of Lent. Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. 

This forum

That's a lot of stuff!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I am going to try to give up worrying.....

When does lent start? And does it mean I'll be able to beat people up on Sundays then?

You shoud see how many biscuits I ate today

Tomorrow. And, apparently yes

It'll be tough.. but I'll try for housework...

Being reasonable.

Cheers Rexi

I'm shaving the tache.

Tis ok

*makes a note to keep out of Karma's way on Sundays for the next few weeks*

Me tae!  

I'm growing mine.

Translation please!..EDIT: Me too?

God

Meh. God's a woman. We all know that.

I'm thinking of giving up Oxygen for 40 days. I toyed with alcohol, but that's too easy for me as I'm not an alcoholic anyways. I don't smoke, I don't eat loads of fatty foods.
I considered water, but then thought that'd rule out just about any form of soft drink as well, and I'd get too thirsty....

So oxygen. Not starting today though, might start tomorrow.

I have given up chocolate and fizzy drinks since january1st I dont know what else I could add to that .. please dont tell me

I'm giving up ironing...not because it's Lent, but because I hate it

Nice try....there is no day off in Lent....

I've given up anything that is bad for me
and I was told about the Sunday thing a few years ago

I was  Catholic.I outgrew Lent in primary school.

days off in Lent, surely not?

It's true, stonks.
That's why it starts on a wednesday, so that we get 40 days, plus the six Sundays.

 In Ireland we get St Patrick's day off..... Apparently it used to be you couldn't get married during the Lent with the exception of St Patrick's day and some folk who abstain from alcohol can drink on St Patrick's day.

The only day we can have off is St Patricks if we wish we are not allowed a Sunday off ever....

I was brought up Irish RC and it was only v recently that my elderly aunt told me that you could have Sundays off and I was  'So when JC was in the desert for 4O days and nights fasting he popped into McyDs for a burger, fries and a milkshake on a Sunday  did he?' I really thought she was making it up so she could scoff cake and chocolate on a Sunday, BUT seems she's right, if you follow the RC calender for lent which starts on Ash Wednesday and finishes on Easter Sunday, then take off the Sundays then that's 40 days.
Different Christian denominations have different 'rules' and Eastern Christian churches have a completely different lent calendar. Seems also that the 'rules'  have changed so much over time and vary re what you can and can't eat, (meat from mammals, dairy etc.) I even read today  that you can add something like being kinder to people rather than 'giving up' something.
The having Paddy's day off thing is a new one on me, (but convenient!). I just read this on wikipidea: If Saint Patrick's Day (March 17) falls on a Friday during Lent, the local Bishop can dispense with the rules and Catholics can eat meat.

They're conning you!

And why do we have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

During Lent there are many foods that some Christians - historically and today - would not eat: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods.

So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the shriving Tuesday, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent without going off.

The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name Mardi Gras ('fat Tuesday'). Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour.

^^^^ That's my understanding Bliz, doesn't q pull it off when people buy their batter mix from Tesco in a packet or ready made crepes in a box!

I only do the Fat Tuesday bit.
Gave up Lent years ago!

I haven't done it since I was a teenager Bliz- but I really want to have a  go at giving up alcohol , so now is as good as any other. TBH it only really occurred to me when I read this thread yesterday and then today I thought, 'Why not?' ( Watch this space I may not last long!)

I shall be smelling your breath for evidence!

Good luck, though.