Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting, is the first day of Lent in Western
Christianity and occurs 46 days before Easter and can fall as early as
February 4 or as late as March 10. Ash Wednesday is observed by many
Western Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Roman
Catholics and Presbyterians.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made
from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and
placing them on the heads of participants.
