Should DD break her Lent chocolate abstinence?

[Corialanusburt]

DD 10 would like the verdict of the mumsnet jury about her dilemma. She decided to give up chocolate for Lent as she absolutely loves it but recognises that a lot is not good for her.
She's been brilliant and resisted multiple temptations. She's now remembered that her birthday falls righ in the middle of Lent.
So can she break her abstinence for that one day? What do you think?

Yes.

No.

Absolutely

Is she an observant Christian? If so, does she think God will understand? If not, why on earth is she observing Lent?

No.

Yes, but she needs to make it worthwhile. Like a chocolate ice cream sundae with chocolate fudge pieces and chocolate sauce. Don't give in for a Milky Way! Do this properly

No!

Only because I'd kill for some red wine but I've given up sugar.

I discovered the other day that Sunday's aren't counted in Lent in the Western church, so if her birthday falls on a Sunday she can legitimately eat chocolate then. If she is feeling that she shouldn't break her fast then she can always save her birthday chocolates for the Sunday afterwards?

Growing up (in good Catholic Ireland if that gives my opinion any extra weight), we were always given 2 "exempt days" for sweets/chocolate in lent, if those days happened to fall in lent - St. Patrick's Day and my best friend's birthday party day. Mind you, we didn't get Sunday's "off".

Oh it's not quite a Sunday Valia but good idea.
Alltouchedout - no she's not a Christian but she learnt about it at Brownies and thought it would be a good lesson in self control. I'm. Dry proud of her cos I couldn't give up my wine and iPad for any length of time.

No. I know that when I gave up chocolate for Lent as a teenager I wouldn't have been pleased with myself if I'd given myself a day off.

Make a scrumptious non chocolatey cake instead.

Ha vviola. That'll be good to tell her. She's half Irish!

The Irish get st Patrick's day off lent. My dad is Irish so he always said to me I could have it off as I was half Irish ;)

No - there are loads of cakes and other birthday treats that don't have chocolate in them. Stick to those!

Jesus was a great one for bending rules when it was the kind and loving thing to do. Healing someone on the Sabbath being a prime example. I reckon he would be OK about taking a day off to celebrate a birthday

I think she'll be prouder of herself if she holds out. If it's only chocolate she's given up, she can still have a cake. I'd encourage her to stick with it and promise a belated birthday chocolate treat after Easter.

Id offer to make her a non chocolate birthday cake and promise her a big bar of galaxy for 1st April or whenever Lent ends.

Maybe give other gift givers the nod so she doesnt get any choc presents.

That's what I told her achicken.

Roll up. Roll up. It's 7 all for Yes and No at the moment.

I think no too. Choose her a fantastic cake without chocolate.

Yes. It's one day and a special day at that.

Lenten fasts can be broken on Sundays and special days - e.g. St Patrick's day. You can probably find a saint if you look at the Roman Catholic calendar 😂
Otherwise what we would do would be save a Sunday up ... dd has gone pescatarian ( Sony default have dh and I) its Not a hardship but we will have a toast dinner on Mother's Day.

The 40 days of Lent are spread over 7 weeks. As mentioned above, I discovered just this year Sundays aren't counted. So I'd say if you "fast" for 40 days between Ash Wed and Easter, you've done what you set out to do. In most cases it's easier to just do the whole lot rather than count days.
I vote for Birthdays in Kent being excepted from fasting. My birthday will never fall in Kent.

Lent... I may be in Kent one year

I let my 15 year old do that. Tbf we've given up sugar (hardcore) and she was going out for dinner with her friends.