The name given to the first day of Lent, which occurs 46 days (i. E. 40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It can occur as early as 4th February or as late as 10th March. Ash Wednesday is so-named from the practice undertaken by Christians to show repentance of their sins. They kneel before a priest who sprinkles ashes on their foreheads - these ashes are produced from the burning of Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday. In some churches, the ashes may be mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (or ordinary oil), and the paste is applied by the priest to make the sign of the cross on each person's forehead. As he does so, he recites the words:"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return".