Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity When Does Lent Start? Find the Date When Lent Begins in This and Other Years Share Flipboard Email Print Andrew Burton / Staff/Getty Images News/Getty Images Christianity Catholicism Holy Days and Holidays Beliefs and Teachings Prayers Tips Worship Saints Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Latter Day Saints View More By Scott P. Richert Scott P. Richert Catholicism Expert M.A., Political Theory, Catholic University of America B.A., Political Theory, Michigan State University Scott P. Richert is senior content network manager of Our Sunday Visitor. He has written about Catholicism for outlets including Humanitas and Catholic Answers Magazine. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on June 25, 2019 Lent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the greatest Christian mystery, the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a 40-day period marked by prayer, fasting and abstinence, and almsgiving. But when does Lent start? How Is the Start of Lent Determined? Since Easter Sunday is a moveable feast, which means it falls on a different date each year, Lent, too, begins on a different date each year. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in the Western calendar, falls 46 days before Easter Sunday. For Eastern Catholics, Lent begins on Clean Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday. When Does Lent Start This Year? Here are the dates of Ash Wednesday and Clean Monday this year: 2019: Ash Wednesday: March 6; Clean Monday: March 4 When Does Lent Start in Future Years? Here are the dates of Ash Wednesday and Clean Monday next year and in future years: 2020: Ash Wednesday: February 26; Clean Monday: February 242021: Ash Wednesday: February 17; Clean Monday: February 152022: Ash Wednesday: March 2; Clean Monday: February 282023: Ash Wednesday: February 22; Clean Monday: February 202024: Ash Wednesday: February 14; Clean Monday: February 122025: Ash Wednesday: March 5; Clean Monday: March 32026: Ash Wednesday: February 18; Clean Monday: February 162027: Ash Wednesday: February 10; Clean Monday: February 82028: Ash Wednesday: March 1; Clean Monday: February 282029: Ash Wednesday: February 14; Clean Monday: February 122030: Ash Wednesday: March 6; Clean Monday: March 4 When Did Lent Start in Previous Years? Here are the dates of Ash Wednesday and Clean Monday in previous years, going back to 2007: 2007: Ash Wednesday: February 21; Clean Monday: February 19 2008: Ash Wednesday: February 6; Clean Monday: February 42009: Ash Wednesday: February 25; Clean Monday: February 232010: Ash Wednesday: February 17; Clean Monday: February 152011: Ash Wednesday: March 9; Clean Monday: March 72012: Ash Wednesday: February 22; Clean Monday: February 202013: Ash Wednesday: February 13; Clean Monday: February 112014: Ash Wednesday: March 5; Clean Monday: March 32015: Ash Wednesday: February 18; Clean Monday: February 162016: Ash Wednesday: February 10; Clean Monday: February 82017: Ash Wednesday: March 1; Clean Monday: February 272018: Ash Wednesday: February 14; Clean Monday: February 12 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Richert, Scott P. "When Does Lent Start?" Learn Religions, Aug. 25, 2020, learnreligions.com/when-does-lent-start-542498. Richert, Scott P. (2020, August 25). When Does Lent Start? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-does-lent-start-542498 Richert, Scott P. "When Does Lent Start?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-does-lent-start-542498 (accessed March 27, 2023). copy citation