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Gregory Hicks sacrificed everything from soda to nail biting during past observations of Lent, the 40 days before Easter, but that's what it takes for him to fulfill his faith.

"It's supposed to represent what Jesus gave up for 40 days and 40 nights because he gave up everything, so we can at least try to give up one thing for 40 days," said Hicks, sophomore history student.

Lent also entails followers receiving the sign of the cross on their foreheads. Some rise early before classes while some wait until evening mass to worship.

"We receive ashes on our forehead, and we celebrate mass," said Christina Papandrea, a sophomore and Roman Catholic. "It's all to help us come back to terms with who we are and why we are here as God's people and to reflect on our current relationship with God."

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent during which followers go to church and receive the mark of the cross on their foreheads in ashes, according to Hicks. Burning palms from Palm Sunday the year before create the ashes used. It also symbolizes the belief that we were created from dust and will return to dust.

"The sign of the cross of ashes on our forehead is the trace of the invisible mark that is made when we are baptized with the sign of cross on the forehead," the Rev. Robert Howard said.

Lent is celebrated in memory of the 40 days Jesus wandered the desert before he was crucified, according to David Howard, son of Robert. It is believed that Jesus fasted for 40 days and was tempted three times by the devil.

"It's a period of reflection on our need for forgiveness, and it's a time of repentance," Robert said. "Also, the number 40 reflects the frequently used number in the Bible before the new testaments like the 40 years the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness before coming to the Promised Land."

Some Christian students admit they do not practice Lent because they simply do not have the time, yet Bryan Stikeleather, a Western Carolina graduate who converted to Catholicism in 2005, said it is a very important holiday and should be taken into consideration not just by Catholics but by all.

"In America's go-go consumer society, it would benefit everyone to take the time to step back and ask ourselves if we're living the way we ought to be living," Stikeleather said. "It doesn't matter whether you're religious or not. Everyone could benefit from practicing Lent. It's also a good chance to renew your New Year's Resolutions. It's hard to flake with 40 days."

Lent ends with Good Friday, the last Friday of the 40 days.

"I call it black Friday because in every church I've ever been in they strip the alter completely of the cross and all decoration and then drape it in black," David said. "Good Friday represents the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for all our sins in death when he was crucified. And then of course there is Easter, which celebrates the resurrection."

During Good Friday some churches hold Stations of the Cross mass at 3 p.m. since that is the time many believe Jesus died, Papandrea said.

"From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. are the three hours of agony on the cross, and then he died at 3 p.m., so that's when we celebrate mass of Stations of the Cross," she said.

To help them remember Jesus fasting during the 40 days in the wilderness and to represent the greater sacrifice of his death, many Christians who celebrate Lent will choose to give up something for the 40 days, David said.

"I don't give up anything," David said. "I still celebrate, but it is an option to give something up for 40 days, not a requirement."

Some students have a more difficult time with giving something up than others.

"I gave up soda one time just because it was something easy. Another time I tried to give up smoking. I kind of used Lent as quitting inspiration, but that failed," said Carmen Gann, senior economics and finance student.

She used to be a practicing Catholic but eventually stopped after the death of her grandmother.

"Since she passed away, I haven't been inspired. Before it was more me pleasing her than anything else. It will always be a part of me, though," Gann said.

Some people, like Papandrea, said they don't actually give up anything because they don't have anything they can think of to give up. Instead they find other ways to observe Lent.

"I've made it a point to go out of my way to do nice things for other people and to be more involved in charitable work, and I've found that to be a pretty rewarding experience," Papandrea said.

Some consider Lent to be an important wake up call, making sure their relationship with God is still strong.

"Lenting season is a time of penance. In order to properly celebrate Lent, we need to recall our sins and reflect on them," Stikeleather said. "It's a chance to check in with God daily and make sure my heart is in the right place."

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