Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or the dictum “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” On Ash Wednesday, we display the twin symbols — dust and the sign of the cross — like badges of honor. The imposition of ashes — of dust — is a reminder of our death. It is a symbol of sorrow for our sins.

Lent is a 40-day season that precedes Easter in many Christian denominations. In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (in 2021 falling on February 17) and runs until Easter (this year on April 4), a period of six and a half weeks, and the Sundays are not counted as part of the 40 days.

Also, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays during Lent, adult Catholics over the age of 14 abstain from eating meat. During these days, it is not acceptable to eat lamb, chicken, beef, pork, ham, deer and most other meats. However, eggs, milk, fish, grains, and fruits and vegetables are all allowed.

As we observed Lent, we prayed and applied the act of contrition.
In Christianity, contrition or contrition (from the Latin contritus ‘crushed to pieces’, that is, crushed by guilt) is repentance for the sins one has committed. … A central concept in much of Christianity, contrition is seen as the first step, through Christ, toward reconciliation with God.

While in excess of a billion Christians observe Lent each year, not all Christians do. It is observed by Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Easter Orthodox, Lutherans, and Methodists. Whole swathes of Protestants don’t observe Lent — Baptists, Evangelicals, Pentecostalists, Latter Day Saints