Popcornbird, Lent is a period of time in the Christian calendar of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Holy Week. Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, (which commemorates Jesus' ride into Jerusalem) include Maunday Thursday (which commemorates the Last Supper), Good Friday (the crucifixion) and East (the ressurection). Lent echoes the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, when he was tempted by the devil, and had to consider the ultimate sacrifice of his life. The actual days vary each year, because it Holy Week coincides with Passover, celebrated by the Jewish faith, and that's based on an older calendar..

So for this period of time, Christians often "give something up" to honor Jesus' sacrifice. Many Catholics don't eat red meat on Fridays during Lent, as one example.