March 5th is Ash Wednesday, which marks the first of the 40 days leading up to Easter, known
as Lent. The Holiday is observed mainly by Catholics, but some other denominations of
Christianity may participate depending on the church they belong to. The day is observed by
fasting and drawing a cross made of ash on one’s forehead, some churches opt to sprinkle ash
instead of drawing the cross. The ash symbolizes dust, which is what god is believed to have
made man from, grief, and humility. The purpose of the holiday is to reconcile with God and to
give up something during Lent. What to give up is chosen by the individual. It can be a food, a
habit, or something else entirely, but this practice relates to the 40 days before Easter when
Jesus was believed to have fasted and resisted temptations of the devil. During Lent, observers
are also meant to shift their focus from worldly possessions and materialism to providing
services and love to others.