By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The carnival season has come and gone, and now is the season of Lent, a traditional time for penitence and fasting in preparation for the Easter celebration.

As the River Parishes are a heavily Catholic area, and Catholics often give up something for the Lenten season, last week L’Observateur asked its readers, “The day after Fat Tuesday, known as Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of repentance that precedes Easter Sunday. It is traditional to give something up during this time. What are you giving up for Lent?”

It seems perhaps the tradition of doing without during Lent may be falling by the wayside here in the River Region as nearly half of those who participated in the poll said they were not planning to give up anything this Lent.

Of those who are giving up something, sweets or junk food were the most popular choice. Over a quarter of respondents said they planned to give up those types of foods during Lent.

Curiously, no one said they planned to give up smoking for Lent.

A full breakdown of responses follows:

• 8 percent of respondents said they planned to give up drinking alcohol.

• 0 percent of respondents said they planned to give up smoking.

• 28 percent of respondents said they planned to give up eating sweets/junk food.

• 16 percent of respondents said they planned to give up something other than the things listed in the poll.

• 48 percent of respondents said they did not plan to give up anything for Lent.

Next week’s question: The Winter Olympics are now in full swing, and they are proving very popular with television viewers. What is your favorite sport to watch in the Winter Olympics?

Visit www.lobservateur.com to vote.