9 Popular Things Iowans Give Up For Lent, Including Netflix And Chill

We're really embracing the penance part of this year.

If you're Catholic, Methodist, or a similar denomination, you know Lenten season 2025 is here and it will be until right before Easter.

It's the season of Friday fish frys at churches and restaurants, and skipping whatever item it is that you're giving up for the season in penance. Which can be difficult (unless it's social media, in which case bye). Lent officially begins March 5th, Ash Wednesday, and will wrap up on April 17th, the Thursday before Easter.

Read More: Illinois And Iowa Fish Fry Events To Check Out This Lenten Season

I can't go a month and a half without the popular penance of coffee, but if you can, a tip-of-the-hat to you. I've given up chocolate for Lent in years past. 'Tis a struggle.

As Catholics and many observing it know, Lent is 40 days long, meant to represent the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert before he started his ministry. As Jesus fasted, Lent is meant to be a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection leading up to Easter.

Now that we're starting Lent, you may be trying to figure out what vice you want to give up as part of the season. Luckily for you, TIME has a list of every state's most popular penances for Lent and boy there are some ideas on it. Who knows, maybe if you give up a more popular thing, you can find someone else going through it too.

Scroll down to see some of the most popular Lent penances in the U.S.!