Nearly 1 Billion To Celebrate Ash Wednesday

On February 18, 2015, many Christians began the 40 day period preceding Easter known as lent. Ash Wednesday will begin the season of Lent, which is expected to be observed by more than one billion people world wide. A day of reflection, many observe Ash Wednesday with services that include placing ash on the forehead as a symbol of repentance and reflection. Lent will continue until Holy Thursday, which commensurates the Last Supper.

The observance date of Ash Wednesday is directly tied to the date of Easter, which unlike Christmas, fluctuates. For around 1,700 years, Easter has fallen on the first Sunday following the full moon in March. Lent, and subsequently Ash Wednesday, are counted back from that date.

Observers of Lent give up something of value as a reminder of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. While traditional items to be given up are favorite foods, cigarettes, alcohol and even dating, the sacrifices of Lent are changing with the times. New on the most popular items to forgo during the observance of Lent are Facebook and twitter.

Ash Wednesday is directly preceded by Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. In New Orleans,as well as other parts of the country and world, Fat Tuesday marks Mardi Gras. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in some parts of the world by consuming pancakes, which were considered a decadent treat because of their composition from the rich foods of eggs, milk and sugar.