Lent, a Christian observance celebrated by many Christians throughout the world, began on March 5, Ash Wednesday. 

The observance lasts 40 days, and the purpose is to prepare Christians for Easter. 

Traditionally, Christians who observe Lent have chosen something to give up for those 40 days as a way to honor Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. In recent years, taking something on rather than giving something up has become more popular.

Some Chapman students are among the Christians observing Lent. 

Junior Ryan Kate Smith is doing many things throughout this time: giving up meat, fasting every Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., doing the daily rosary, reading the Bible and going to adoration and confession. 

“I want to get closer (to God),” she said. “Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness. I can’t do 40 days, but I can at least do 12 hours for 40 days.”

Freshman Alisson Santiego-Coronel is giving up gossiping, swearing, unhealthy habits and unhealthy foods. 

“To me, Lent means making my promise to God since I’m using what he gave us in the world, instead of using the bad, unhealthy things,” Santiego-Coronel said. 

Senior Kadin Horton has chosen to give up putting heat on her naturally curly hair. For her, Lent evokes the thought that God provided and took his time creating everything carefully, so no one should try to drastically change or avoid that. 

“I feel like it’s a worldly thing to try and take that away and change who I am from how God decided me to be,” she said. 

Horton said that participating in a Lenten observance is a way to honor a fundamental belief of her faith.

“I celebrate it because Jesus died on that cross for me, so I have to pay it back somehow,” Horton said.