Ash Wednesday is acknowledged as the beginning of Lent for Christians who follow the Western or Gregorian calendar. Lent is a period of 40 days which represents the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. During Lent many Christians fast or perform acts of sacrifice to align themselves with Jesus. Children often participate by giving up treats or bad habits and doing acts of kindness. It is also a time of prayer and almsgiving (performing acts of charity.)
Some church goers on this day are marked with ashes in the shape of the cross. The ashes symbolize human mortality and sorrow for the things done wrong. Some Christians take the view that the ashes symbolize frailty and brokenness.
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