Quadragesima Sunday

Quadragesima Sunday is the Sunday occurring after Ash Wednesday. In Roman Catholic tradition, it is the first Sunday during the holy season of Lent. Like on other Sundays of Lent, it is customary to dispense from the fast on Quadragesima, as Sundays are not counted among the forty days of Lent.

The term "Quadragesima" is derived from the Latin word for "fortieth," as there are exactly forty days from Quadragesima Sunday until Good Friday. However, like Quinquagesima, Sexagesima and Septuagesima, the numeral is more likely an approximation of how many days there are until Easter Sunday, in this case 42. While Quadragesima includes both Sundays and weekdays, the beginning of Lent was later changed to the preceding Wednesday, "Ash Wednesday," to get in forty weekdays.

Quadragesima Sunday may occur as early as February 8 or as late as March 14.

In 2008 Quadragesima Sunday is on the 10th February.