Explainer: What is ash wednesday — Lent start date, meaning and practices
Ash Wednesday marks the formal start of Lent, a season of reflection and discipline observed by many Christians. This year Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET), beginning a Lenten period that runs through April 2, 2026 (ET). The day and the season combine ancient ritual, penitential practice and contemporary expressions of faith.
What the ashes symbolize and how they are used
On Ash Wednesday, worshippers commonly receive a smudge of ash on the forehead, often in the shape of a cross. The ashes serve as a visible reminder of human mortality — "you are dust, and to dust you shall return" — and a call to repentance and reconciliation. The custom draws on biblical and early Christian traditions that associated ashes and sackcloth with mourning, contrition and humility.
The ashes themselves are traditionally produced by burning the previous year’s palm branches from Palm Sunday. Over centuries the ritual moved from marking public penitents alone to a rite offered to entire congregations, with the modern practice of placing a cross of ash on the forehead becoming widespread.
Why Lent is observed and how long it lasts
Lent is framed as a roughly 40-day period modeled on scriptural fasts, designed for intensified prayer, fasting and acts of charity. Early Christians observed a shorter penitential season that evolved in the seventh century into the 40 days commonly observed today; the counting methods produced a range of practices before the current rhythm coalesced.
Traditionally, Sundays are counted differently from weekdays, which is why the calendar can look complex. This year’s Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET) and concludes on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET), leading into the celebrations and commemorations of Holy Week.
Practices, attendance and modern expressions
Many Christians mark Ash Wednesday with fasting or abstinence from certain foods, and congregations often hold multiple services throughout the day — from early morning Masses or liturgies to midday and evening gatherings. Some parishes provide walk-in distribution of ashes between scheduled services to accommodate busy schedules; others offer bilingual or special liturgies for families and children.
Lent also prompts personal commitments: many choose to give up particular habits or comforts as a form of spiritual discipline, while others add practices like daily prayer, Scripture reading or volunteer work. Digital resources designed for prayer and reflection typically see increased usage during Lent, as many people look for guided ways to observe the season.
Although Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation in many traditions, it remains one of the most commonly attended non-Sunday services on the Christian calendar. For those observing, it is both a communal and a personal moment to begin the Lenten journey.
Whether observed in a formal liturgy, a simple wrist smudge, or a private act of contrition, Ash Wednesday signals the start of a period intended to focus attention on repentance, renewal and preparation for Easter.
