So begins another season of people giving up luxuries for God.
Wednesday kicked off the 40 day Lenten Journey for the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican religions.
Jennifer Kacerosky, a Catholic UF senior,
said that on Ash Wednesday, members of the Catholic religion bring their palm fronds from the previous years Palm Sunday to mass.
The Fronds are burned and the ashes are smeared on the foreheads of Catholics in the shape of a cross to symbolize cleansing.
Kacerosky said she is not giving up anything this year. Instead, she will be adding routines to her daily life to better her relationship with God.
"I'm planning on going to daily mass and praying the Rosary every day," Kacerosky said. "I have always had a problem with praying the Rosary daily and I think Lent would be a perfect time for me to start." "I'm giving up sleep," joked Mike Walsh, 46.
As a stay-at-home dad, Walsh said he hasn't slept in five years because of his three young daughters.
"I'm really giving up vulgarities," Walsh said. "Not all of them, just various ones."
Walsh said he doesn't like it when his 4-and-a-half-year-old repeats them.
UF Senior Nelson Burke said two years ago, he gave up sex.
"It was horrible," Burke said. "Lent is really long."
He said the experience he had two years ago was just like that of Josh Hartnett's character in the 2002 movie "40 Days and 40 Nights."
"It does let you bring your relationship to different levels when sex isn't involved," Burke said, adding that the person he was dating wasn't always happy about his decision.
Catholic Charities Employee Sabrina Miller, 24, said she is going to be taking better care of herself for Lent this year.
"I am going to benefit myself by eating healthy and exercising," Miller said. "I'm going to start being more positive and less bitchy."
Paul and Kelly Darby attended the 7 p.m. mass as converting Catholics.
Kelly, 27, said she was born a Catholic but never went through confirmation.
She said she will be giving up gossiping while her husband Paul, 25, will be giving up salt.
"Everything is going to taste boring from now on," he said.
