Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, an important time for Christians leading up to Easter. Here's what to know.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent that leads up to Good Friday and Easter. What to know about the day.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, has been in full swing since Jan. 6 and will close with a final celebration on March 4 with a Fat Tuesday celebration.

Easter this year will be in late April, on Sunday, April 20. Easter Sunday sometimes falls in late April, because the holiday is not tied to a specific date. As a result, all of the related religious ...

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are known as obligatory days of abstinence. Children 14 and older are expected to abstain from meat. The observance of Ash Wednesday dates to the 11th century ...

On Ash Wednesday, worshipers are also supposed to fast, allowing themselves to have one meal during the day. Children and elderly people are usually exempt from fasting and giving up meat.