For many people who are involved in certain denominations of the Christian faith, the festivities of Mardi Gras have come to an end, and Great Lent is beginning. Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), is the first day of Lent. The period of fasting lasts around six weeks, right before Easter Sunday. This time is modeled after the period that Jesus spent in the desert fasting for forty days. Christian denominations that participate in Lent include: Roman Catholics, Methodists, Lutheran, Anglican and Calvinist. A tradition of the Christian faith is to give up or fast from certain types of “luxuries” for the entire Lent period. Other Christian denominations such as Eastern Orthodox Churches start Lent at a different time due to following a different calendar, and also follow different Lent traditions. These churches will fast from all meat, dairy and oils rather than choosing a specific item to give up.

Below are items that AMHS students have given up for Lent

1. Annika Bovender (12)- television
2. Evan Camp (12)- 2^nd helpings
3. Tedra Roper (12)- sweets/fried food
4. Lilly Schweickhardt (12)- social media
5. Maegan Reed (11)- Netflix
6. Chris Chaplin (11)- Netflix
7. Lauren Hawes (10)- processed food
8. Samantha Kramer (12)- Tumblr
9. Mary Peyton Brown (11)- desserts
10. Choral Linhart (12)- biting nails
11. Madison McDougall (12)- foul language
12. Alexa Lane (12)- coffee
13. Ethan Linhart (10)- chips
14. Trey Perry (12)- junk food
15. Leslie Thelan (12)- chocolate
16. Lee Davis (11)- procrastination
17. Caroline Keefer (9)- dessert food