Christians across the valley participate in Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent

Matt Solinsky, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·1 min read

Christians around the world, including across the Coachella Valley, marked the start of the 40-day Lenten period leading up to Easter on Wednesday with the sign of the cross on their foreheads with ashes.

Ash Wednesday — officially known as the Day of Ashes — is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God.

The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.

Traditionally, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are gathered up after palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. They are then blessed before being used in the ceremony.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Christians participate in Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent