There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance
[A title=Penance href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penance"][/A] Today, some people give up something they enjoy, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations.
We used to have to give up sweets when we were kids.