Ash Wednesday is one of the most solemn of Christian dates. It's the start of a weekslong period for the faithful called Lent that comes ahead of one of the most joyous of Christian holidays.

It's Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lent and fish Friday traditions. Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance, marked by ashes being placed on a worshiper's forehead in the shape of a cross by a ...

The tradition dates as far back as 601 AD, when 64th leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Gregory cemented the Lent as permanent tradition, according to the Museum of the Bible. At this time, Lent ...

Easter 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 5. Lent began on Ash Wednesday, which is March 5, 2025. “Lent, kicking off with Ash Wednesday, is an incredible time of year that we as Christians ...

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Lent is the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Christians use the time for preparation and atonement before celebrating Easter.

According to Britannica.com, Ash Wednesday is "a solemn reminder of human ... Historically, early Christians observed Lent over six weeks (36 days), excluding Sundays. By the 7th century, the ...

On Ash Wednesday, many Catholics will receive ashes ... He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. Lent is a period of 40 days and nights of preparation for Easter.

How is Easter linked to eggs and bunnies? Here's what to know about the historical significance of the Christian holiday.

Particular days of abstinence during Lent are Fridays, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. As canon law states, Catholics over the age of 14 are expected to abstain from the eating of meat on Ash ...

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, a 40-day period of solemn observance that ends on Easter Sunday. During Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on a worshiper's forehead in the shape of the cross.