When Does Lent Start?

Find the Date When Lent Begins in This and Other Years

Catholics Mark Start Of Lent With Ash Wednesday
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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 24
  • 2021: Ash Wednesday: February 17; Clean Monday: February 15
  • 2022: Ash Wednesday: March 2; Clean Monday: February 28
  • 2023: Ash Wednesday: February 22; Clean Monday: February 20
  • 2024: Ash Wednesday: February 14; Clean Monday: February 12
  • 2025: Ash Wednesday: March 5; Clean Monday: March 3
  • 2026: Ash Wednesday: February 18; Clean Monday: February 16
  • 2027: Ash Wednesday: February 10; Clean Monday: February 8
  • 2028: Ash Wednesday: March 1; Clean Monday: February 28
  • 2029: Ash Wednesday: February 14; Clean Monday: February 12
  • 2030: 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 4
  • 2009: Ash Wednesday: February 25; Clean Monday: February 23
  • 2010: Ash Wednesday: February 17; Clean Monday: February 15
  • 2011: Ash Wednesday: March 9; Clean Monday: March 7
  • 2012: Ash Wednesday: February 22; Clean Monday: February 20
  • 2013: Ash Wednesday: February 13; Clean Monday: February 11
  • 2014: Ash Wednesday: March 5; Clean Monday: March 3
  • 2015: Ash Wednesday: February 18; Clean Monday: February 16
  • 2016: Ash Wednesday: February 10; Clean Monday: February 8
  • 2017: Ash Wednesday: March 1; Clean Monday: February 27
  • 2018: Ash Wednesday: February 14; Clean Monday: February 12
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Richert, Scott P. "When Does Lent Start?" Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/when-does-lent-start-542498. Richert, Scott P. (2023, April 5). 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 19, 2024).