Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, a day in which many Christians attend a church service and receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. The gesture dates back thousands of years to the Old Testament, where displaying ashes served as a sign of someone's humility before God, as well as a symbol of repentance.

This year, the spring equinox is March 20, and the first full moon following it is on April 12, making Easter April 20. 46 days before April 20 is March 5, making that date Ash Wednesday for 2025. Maria Francis of USA Today contributed to this report.

Franciscan Father Joachim speaks with people visiting the gift store at Our Lady's Chapel in downtown New Bedford after delivering Ash Wednesday Mass. Ash Wednesday, also known as the Day of Ashes, falls on Wednesday,