What Are the Origins of Lent?

In late winter, many Christian denominations observe a 40-day period of fasting and prayer called Lent. This is in preparation for the spring celebration of Easter, a religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The word "Lent" has Germanic roots referring to the "lengthening" of days, or springtime. But facts about the early origin of the religious observance are not as well known. As a scholar who studies Christian liturgy, I know that by the fourth century, a regular practice of 40-day fasting became common in Christian churches.