Offers a brief background of Lent and of Ash Wednesday, the day that begins the season. Christians can have ash crosses placed on their foreheads as symbols of penance.

Learn about Ash Wednesday, a tradition in which Christians are reminded of penitence and have blessed ashes placed on their foreheads to signify their penance.

Introduces Ash Wednesday, a holiday of penitence, self-reflection, and observance of the past year's deaths, sorrow, and wrongs. Also offers an Ash Wednesday poem.

Presents an explanation of the practices associated with this Christian holiday.

Discover the Roman Catholic history of this first day of Lent. Connects to many related articles.

Find out the specific date the Christian holidays are or were observed for any given year through this algorithm from the US Naval Observatory.

Offers a 5-part homily to be read for Ash Wednesday, a day of penitence for Christians and the first day of the Lenten season.

Learn why ashes are used to signify penitence on Ash Wednesday. A phrase used by priests on this day is "Remember, man, that you are dust and unto dust you will return."

Features a brief history of Ash Wednesday, and prayers for this first day of Lent.

Answers several questions about the origins, meanings and rituals of Ash Wednesday.

Marking the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday is a day anticipated each year. Its origin is said to date back to the papacy of Gregory the Great.

Read poems, such as "The Prayer" and "The Penitence," which were written to celebrate the arrival of Ash Wednesday and all that the day represents.

Explains the reason why ashes are used to signify penance. Ashes are usually saved from the burned Palm fronds used during the previous year's Palm Sunday.

Articles explores the importance of ashes to the Catholic observance of Ash Wednesday.

Learn about Ash Wednesday, fasting, and penance. Features suggestions for family observance of the Lenten season through penance, prayer, and instruction.