Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. For most people on the planet, it had little significance. But for Catholics the world over, it marked the first day of Lenten season, the 40-day period leading up to Easter.

They are, without a doubt, the longest 40 days in any Catholic’s life. And not only because there are actually 47 days. (Apparently we’re not supposed to count the Sundays. Something my CCD teachers neglected to mention.)

Easter is, of course, a time of celebration and renewal. Lent is the antithesis; a time of prayer, fasting and self-sacrifice. The period is meant to signify the time Jesus spent wandering in the wilderness resisting the temptations placed before him by Satan. (Do I have that right, Aunt Kathleen?) And in recognition of that, Catholics do some resisting of temptation of their own.

We have our big blow-out bash on Fat Tuesday, a.k.a. Mardi Gras, and then on Ash Wednesday, we begin our Lenten fast. While the most devout take this truly to heart, your ordinary, every day Catholic (like moi) does two things.

We give up eating meat on Fridays (hence the preponderance of fish frys this time of year) and we give up something. By this I mean, we attempt to abstain from something near and dear to our hearts. Like chocolate. Or booze. Or Facebook.