What is the significance of the length of Lent?

Answer 1

Lent is 6 weeks long and this is symbolic as it is the period of time Jesus was alone in the desert without food or water. Catholics see this as replicating the sacrifice their God made during his incarnation as Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

The 40 days of lent represent the 40 days which Jesus spent in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. Sundays are not counted, as each Sunday represents Jesus' victory over death. In the Old Testament there is plenty of significance recalling Noah and Prophet Jonah.

The Catholic Church and many other Christians Churches follow the Biblical practice of Jesus Christ and the Jews in setting aside days where the entire Church fasts and prays as one in a attitude of constant renewal. By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert and in spiritual preparation for the celebration of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. This season of penance is an intense moment of the Church's penitential practice and are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and charitable and missionary works. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches also observe the season of Lent. Many modern Protestant Churches consider the observation of Lent to be a choice, rather than an obligation. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, lasts 40 days not counting Sundays and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. In 2009, Ash Wednesday will fall on February 25 and Easter will fall on April 12. February

According to some ancient historical authorities: It is due to the legend that Semiramis, wife of a certain Nimrod-ruler and founder of the ancient Sumerian empire (first and oldest human empire) predating the Babylonians ,following the death of her son by a wild boar (her son alleged by her to be supernaturally conceived), she wept for her dead son Tammuz 40 days, following which, He "rose from the dead". This custom even has a reference to it, in the Bible in Ezekiel (some 500 years before Christ) Ez8:14, as it was a very common Pagan religious practice in those days as well.

This is where some authorities on ancient customs ultimately trace the origin of the 40 days of lent, which is what it is presented as now, as mourning time over the death of Christ, which was the transplanted meaning the Roman Catholic Church made the custom into, but originally these 40 days of mourning had nothing to do with Christianity. This is of course usually strongly denied by Roman authorities, not liking the stigma of the association, but the same can be said for most "Christian" instituted holidays like Christmas, Easter (ever wonder what the resurrection of Christ has to do with Easter bunnies laying eggs??!!)

The 40-day period of Lent, if counted from Ash Wednesday through the day before Easter adds up to 46 days! However, the Sundays of the year are not to be penitential days or days of doing penance such as fasting or abstaining but should be days of celebration (each Sunday is a little Easter). So, counting the days again from Ash Wednesday through the day before Easter and not including the Sundays will add up to 40.