Every year in February and March, you'll see people walking around with black smudges on their foreheads. There's a simple reason for it – it's Ash Wednesday, an important season for Christians.

Ash Wednesday is March 5, which marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of repentance, fasting and prayer. Many worshipers will receive the marking of the cross in ash on their foreheads on ...

Ash Wednesday always falls six and a half weeks before Easter. Because it's dependent on the date Easter falls on, it can occur as early as Feb. 4 or as late as March 10.