Ash Wednesday Begins Lent for Christians around the World

By: Newsroom Solutions

Updated: February 17, 2010

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

The beginning of the 40-day liturgical season that comes directly before Easter in the Christian calendar is marked on Ash Wednesday for Western Christian churches.

Roman Catholic, Anglican, along with some other churches, hold special services in which worshipers are marked on the forehead with ashes as a symbol of death and repentance.

The observation of the 40 days of Lent is marked by fasting from both food and festivities.

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