Is Easter After 40 or 46 Days? Understanding the Lenten Calendar
In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on April 5. While Lent is famously a 40-day fast, it actually spans 46 calendar days (Feb 18 to April 5). The discrepancy exists because Sundays are excluded from the count, as they are considered weekly celebrations of the Resurrection. Eastern Orthodox Easter will be observed on April 12.
Mumbai, February 20: As millions of Christians worldwide began their Lenten journey this Wednesday, February 20, a perennial question has resurfaced regarding the exact duration of the season. While Lent is traditionally described as a 40-day period of fasting and reflection, the calendar span from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday actually totals 46 days. This discrepancy is not a mathematical error but a deliberate liturgical design that balances biblical symbolism with the weekly celebration of the Resurrection.
The Math Behind the 40-Day Tradition
The number 40 holds profound significance in Christian scripture, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, and the 40 days of rain during the Great Flood. To honour this, the Church established a "tithe" of the year for spiritual discipline. Easter 2026 Date in India: When Is Easter Sunday? Why Does Easter Date Change? All You Need To Know As Ash Wednesday Marks the Beginning of Lenten Season.
However, the Western Christian calendar includes 46 days between the start of Lent and Easter. The "missing" six days are the Sundays. In Christian tradition, every Sunday is considered a "mini-Easter" - a feast day commemorating Jesus' victory over death - and is therefore excluded from the prescribed days of Lenten fasting and penance.
Key Dates for the 2026 Lenten Calendar
The date of Easter changes annually because it is determined by the lunar cycle, specifically falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. In 2026, this calculation places the holiday in early April.
| Holy Day | 2026 Date | Significance |
| Ash Wednesday | February 18 | The start of Lent; marked by the imposition of ashes. |
| Palm Sunday | March 29 | Commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem; begins Holy Week. |
| Holy Thursday | April 2 | Remembers the Last Supper; officially ends the Lenten season. |
| Good Friday | April 3 | Observance of the crucifixion and death of Jesus. |
| Easter Sunday | April 5 | The celebration of the Resurrection. |
Western vs. Eastern Observances
While Western denominations (including Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans) began Lent on February 18, Eastern Orthodox traditions follow a different timeline. Using the Julian calendar, "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians begins on Monday, February 23. Consequently, Orthodox Easter (Pascha) will be celebrated a week later, on April 12. Mardi Gras 2026: Date, Lent 2026 Calendar, Good Friday and Easter Sunday Dates.
Liturgical Transitions
The Lenten season technically concludes on the evening of Holy Thursday, just before the "Easter Triduum" - the three days encompassing Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. During these 40 (or 46) days, practitioners often engage in three core disciplines: prayer, fasting (abstaining from specific foods or habits), and almsgiving (charity). The shift from the sombre purple vestments of Lent to the white and gold of Easter signals the end of the penitential period and the beginning of the 50-day Eastertide season, which will conclude on Pentecost Sunday, May 24.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 03:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).