The 40 days before Easter are called Lent.
Lent is the time of preparation for Easter and is when Christians remember the events that lead up to Jesus's death and resurrection.
During Lent Christians pray and read scripture.
Christians also abstain from food and festivities.
During lent Christians also give aims to serve others and practice self control and surrender vices like smoking or favorite foods.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday.
Holy week is the last week of Lent and also includes Holy Monday, Palm Sunday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Eastern Sunday.
The word lent comes from an old English word that means Lengthen.
Since folks don't fast, the Catholic Bishops have determined that giving up meat is a fast equivalent.
Also some Catholics give up a favorite or a food usually for Lent and add it back after Easter.