Lent period

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What is Ash Wednesday?

Held the day after Shrove Tuesday Ash Wednesday is considered a day to cleanse the soul before Lent begins. Ashes are used to mark a cross on the foreheads of churchgoers to symbolise repentance for sin. Palm crosses from the last Palm Sunday are burned and the ash is used to mark parishioners. It is also said to be a reminder that death comes to everyone.

What is Lent?

Lent takes place every year in the 40 days leading up to Easter , and is treated as a period of reflection and a time for fasting from food and festivities. The fasting period is to remember when Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days despite being tempted.

This depends where you are. For Western churches the 40-day period of Lent ends on Holy Saturday (March 31), the day before Easter. But the liturgical season of Lent ends two days earlier on Holy Thursday (March 29). For Eastern churches it ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday.