YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Lent, the period of 48 days up to Easter, starts on February 19. This year Easter will be celebrated on April 8. During Lent, Christians use food of plant origin. They give up not only certain foodstuffs but also bad habits: garrulity, bad language, lying, etc. The 40-day Lent symbolizes the period of Christ's prayers, fast and repentance. Jesus Christ fasted in the name of saving mankind, he repented instead of humans so that repentance of those keeping the fast will get meaning and reality. Lent comes to its middle on March 14. By tradition, on this day people make gatas (Armenian cakes with fillings of flour, butter and suger) in which they put a metal coin. The coin brings good luck to the person who get a piece of cake with it. According to ancient rules, any weddings and offerings were fordidden during Lent. Catholicos Vazgen I allowed weddings during Lent - but only on Saturdays and Sundays.

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