Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and repentance leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a solemn day observed by many Christians, especially in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant traditions. The name comes from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful in the shape of a cross. The ashes symbolize repentance, mortality, and humility. The ashes are traditionally made by burning the palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. These ashes are blessed before being applied to the forehead.

Catholics (ages 18–59) eat only one full meal, with two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. Catholics (ages 14+) abstain from eating meat.

The purpose of Ash Wednesday is for Repentance, Mortality, and Preparation. Many attend Mass or services to receive ashes as a public sign of faith. The ashes on Ash Wednesday remind us of repentance and mortality, with biblical roots in the Old and New Testaments. The practice of using ashes dates back to the early Church, inspired by Jewish traditions of repentance.By the 8th–10th centuries, it became a formal practice in the Western Church. Churches distribute ashes during Mass or special services. Many people give up a vice or habit for Lent, such as sweets, social media, or excessive entertainment. Ash Wednesday is widely observed, with parades, processions, and special prayers. In some countries, businesses close early so people can attend church. Fasting is a form of spiritual discipline to detach from worldly desires and focus on God.It mirrors Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert.