With Lent just around the corner, it’s easy to find yourself worrying about what practices are the most important partake in. Whether you’ve been practicing your whole life or are new to the tradition, you may have heard a number of things about Lent and are unsure about what’s actually true. Either way, there are a lot of myths out there about this part of the Christian calendar and we’re here to clear things up. Here are five common misconceptions about Lent and the truth behind them.

Lent is a time to reflect on and appreciate the people and privileges you have in your life. For Christians, it’s also a time to be thankful for the sacrifices Jesus made. This tradition isn’t as complex as some make it out to be, but with so much false information out there, it’s easy to mistake a myth for fact. Hopefully we clarified some of the most common myths about Lent for you and gave you a better understanding of an important Christian tradition.

Whether you’re observing this month or not, get into the spirit of things and spend some time with your family and find renewed appreciation for all the wonderful things in your life.

Feature Image: Didgeman