Lent 2020 In Colorado: Ash Wednesday Starts Lenten Period

For those who are planning to observe Lent in 2020, you might want to start thinking about what you’ll be giving up soon: The official start date of the religious period falls on Feb. 26, or Ash Wednesday.

Lent is a religious period chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians also observe the 40-day stretch that serves as time of reflection and restraint in the build-up to Easter.

Many people take part in fasting and/or giving up certain luxuries or pleasures during the period to commemorate the sacrifices made by Christ.

If you already know what you’re giving up for Lent, feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

Lent will end on Thursday, April 9, in 2020.

What do the ashes represent?

On Ash Wednesday, observers of the day will have ashes applied in the shape of a cross to their foreheads. In many cases, people will wear the crosses throughout the rest of the day to publicly express their faith.

The ashes symbolize penance, mourning and mortality. Typically, the priest will apply the ashes while saying, “Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, which falls every year on the Sunday before Easter.