Ash Wednesday / First Day of Lent

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the period of 40 days before Easter in which many Western Christians sacrifice ordinary pleasures to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice. On this day, there are special church services and the faithful wear a cross of ashes marked on foreheads. Christians may abstain from meat on this day. Lent concludes with Easter Sunday, which this year will be celebrated on March 28.