Why is Lent called Lent?
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Lent was originally known by the Latin term “quadragesima”, which translated means the fortieth. This relates to the fortieth day before Easter and the forty days of fasting to come.
It was during the Middle Ages, when sermons were no longer given in Latin that the English term “Lent” was adopted.
Lent is derived from the Germanic name for Spring “Lencten” and the Anglo-Saxon name for March “Lenct”. “Lencten” comes from the Germanic root for “long” as Spring is the time of year when the days become longer.
Lent traditionally falls within the period of Spring each year.