What is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day liturgical season that begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes at the Great Vigil of Easter.  Sundays are not included in the 40-day count because every Sunday is a joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection.  Though not biblical, Lent has long been a tradition in the Christian Church, and it is thought that the tradition of the 40 days recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).  Lent is considered a time of penance and discipline.  Because of Lent's penitential nature, worship tends to be more solemn, and purple is the liturgical color of the season. Many congregations hold special mid-week worship services and promote other devotional activities to help their members concentrate on the Lenten disciplines of fasting, almsgiving (charity) and prayer.  Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.  The Sunday of the Passion or Palm Sunday begins the last week of Lent, known as Holy Week.  During this holiest time of the church year, the worship services relive the final week of our Lord's human life.  Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, when Christians observe Christ's "Last Supper" -- the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion -- and the mandate to serve one another in love.  Good Friday commemorates the imprisonment, trial and death by crucifixion of Jesus. Lent culminates on Saturday evening of Holy Week in the Great Vigil of Easter, when Christians gather in darkness, light new fire, and celebrate the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in the resurrection of Christ.

When do we bury the alleluia?
Alleluia is appropriately bid farewell on the Sunday preceding Ash Wednesday (the Transfiguration of Our Lord, also called the last Sunday after the Epiphany). This is the last Sunday when alleluia will be used until the Vigil of Easter, or Easter Sunday for those congregations not holding a Vigil. The burial of the alleluia could otherwise be the culminating activity at a congregational Carnival (also known as Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday) celebration just before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Is it appropriate to use alleluias at funerals during Lent?
The historic practice of most western liturgical churches is to fast from alleluias even at funeral during Lent. However, Christian funerals properly recall and celebrate our death and resurrection with Christ in baptism. The paschal candle is lighted at all funerals to remind us of the presence of the risen Christ with us. Christian funerals always proclaim the resurrection, pointing us toward Easter and toward the promise of eternal life with God. Because of their Easter orientation, it seems reasonable and pastoral to conclude that funerals may appropriately suspend the "rule" against using alleluias during Lent.