In 2009, Lent is 46 days, ending on the Saturday before Easter, April 11th.

This day marks the beginning of Lent. Ash symbolizes sorrow for wrong doings and foreheads of churchgoers are marked with the shape of the cross with ashes as a sign of penitence.

egsnyder, the ash is symbolic of human mortality, not sin - either than, or twelve years of Catholic education was all wrong.

(that, not than) - typo.