Today is Ash Wednesday, that is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It marks the first day of Lent (the six weeks of penitence before Easter).
Lent is observed by many different Christian denominations, including Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic. According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it commemorates the 40 days in which Jesus spent fasting in the desert.
In order to make a personal sacrifice during Lent, many people give up something they enjoy, usually a food (for example sweets) or activity (for example clubbing). In addition, the beginning of Lent changes each year and ends with Easter.
Today, Poles attend a special mass and place The Ashes on their foreheads. What is interesting, The Ashes come from the palms that were blessed at churches on Palm Sunday of the previous year.