Whether they’re religious, spiritual, agnostic or aetheist, millions around the world share the belief that Lent is the perfect time to attempt to do without, says Deana Luchia.
For some reason, Lent seems to be a better bet than New Year when it comes to giving up sweets, cigarettes or alcohol.
I’ve gone from one extreme to another, from nibbling constantly to absolutely nothing
While most people resolving to quit their particular vice from January 1 seem to succumb to temptation in mere days, those opting to abstain at Lent seem to have much better rates of success, with most people managing to make it right through to Easter Sunday, with the few that do fall off the wagon, getting straight back on.
So what is it about Lent that makes people stick to their goal of eschewing chocolate and alcohol – the items most commonly given up? Four people, certain that they will succeed, share what Lent means to them.
Christine Pace of Attard is abstaining from sugar. “No chocolates, no biscuits, no cake, no sweets. Not even cereal bars,” she says proudly as I eat a large bag of chocolate eggs right in front of her.
I offer her one but she doesn’t look remotely tempted. “I’ve had total success so far,” she smiles, two weeks into Lent. “I’ve gone from one extreme to another, from nibbling constantly to absolutely nothing.”
The reasons she’s trying to give up sugar for Lent, she says, are partly religious, but more to do with wanting to be healthy and Lent being a good time to test the waters. This year is the first year that she feels she’ll make it to Easter Sunday. “It’s strange for me to be this strong but I’m sure I will manage.”
Christine’s motivated, too, by the fact that her husband Anthony, and their two daughters are also observing Lent. “It’s helpful to be doing it all together. Anthony will probably even carry on afterwards, but our children will definitely eat chocolate at Easter.”
Francesca Warr divides her time between Sliema and Dubai. This year she’s given up, “bread and anything chocolatey”, and like every year, she does this for religious reasons. “I do it just because I don’t do very much for my faith really, except go to Mass on Sundays.”
While she’s tried to get her two children on board, she admits she hasn’t been very successful. She intends, though, to see it through herself. Like most people who observe Lent, Francesca has chosen something that would normally be difficult for her to give up.
“I chose chocolate because I crave for it and don’t stop eating it until my craving is satisfied, which means I eat every bit of chocolate in sight.”
Mark D’Mello lives in Qui Si Sana. He’s abstaining from alcohol for Lent. This is something he does every year. “I choose alcohol as I consider it one of life’s pleasures and I enjoy drinking wine with meals.”
Despite it being “pretty hard to do due to the amount of social events I attend,” Mark makes it to Easter Sunday teetotal. “I do it every year. I am single-minded and always stick to it. I never break it, never will!”
Religion doesn’t come into it. “It’s just an easy date focus for me,” Mark notes, although his motivations are many. “The early part of the year for me is a focus time when I reflect and do all my planning for the year. I also find Lent a mechanism to focus on the positives in my life, and turning down a drink or glass of wine with dinner focuses me on the luck and good fortune I have had in other areas. So for me, it’s a very positive and personal thing to do, and it’s very hard.”
Doris Munro is one of the many who has given up chocolate. “I do this every year and have done for as long as I can remember and I’m always successful,” she says. “For some inexplicable reason, this is the only time where I show self-sacrifice and restraint.”
While Lent at school was about giving up something once or twice a week, now Doris habitually gives up chocolate for the whole period: “I have to say I find that the last week is always particularly difficult.”
For Doris, the motivation is, “most definitely religious. So many things happen during the year and this is the only way I can think of to show my appreciation to God for all the graces He bestows on my family during the year.”