After a day of indulging in pancakes , Christians around the world prepare to shift gear tomorrow for Ash Wednesday, the holy day of prayer that marks the beginning of Lent this year .

The 40-day period (excluding Sundays) is an opportunity for many Christians to decide to give something up in order to practice self-discipline.

The name Ash Wednesday derives from a custom that takes place in churches, in which worshippers have their foreheads sprinkled with ash during special services. The ash is obtained by burning crosses made from palm wood used in the previous year’s service for Palm Sunday (the celebration of Jesus Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem).

In the Christian faith, Lent marks the transition from winter to spring. The festival is a time for reflection, repentance, and spiri

See Full Page