Quinquagesima

Christianity

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July 16, 2026

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Quinquagesima refers to the Sunday before Lent, also known as Shrove Sunday. This day marks the end of the Carnival season and is a time for festivities before the start of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and reflection in Western Christianity. The term "Quinquagesima" comes from the Latin word for "fiftieth," alluding to the approximate number of days before Easter. It is distinct from Quadragesima, which refers to the first Sunday of Lent or the entire 40-day Lenten period.123

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Carnival
Dates and length of Carnival
…generally, the commencement date is Quinquagesima Sunday (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday) and the conclusion is Shrove Tuesday. In some parts of Spain, Ash Wednesday also is included in the Carnival celebrations, an observance that stems from a time when Ash Wednesday was not an integral part of Lent.
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…generally, the commencement date is Quinquagesima Sunday (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday) and the conclusion is Shrove Tuesday. In some parts of Spain, Ash Wednesday also is included in the Carnival celebrations, an observance that stems from a time when Ash Wednesday was not an integral part of Lent.
Read More