Lent is a time of abstinence and fasting. Catholics give up all red meat and some dairy, I understand, but Episcopalians give up something they need to give up. For pretty much everyone in our church, sugar is given up.

The general idea, however, is that we give up something we should give up but never got around to giving up. *squints*

It's because Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights when the devil tried to tempt him, I believe.