Donaghy said the art of the ash on the forehead is a difficult one. "It's not the best medium for an artist to work in," he said. As for inexplicable shapes, "I've had a few," he said.

The Rev. Paul Soper, right, uses a swab to apply ash to the forehead of a parishioner during Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood, Massachusetts, on Feb. 17, 2021.

The art of the sprinkle may vary between religious professionals, ... Cardinal Timothy Dolan distributes ashes on Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick's Cathedral on February 10, 2016, ...

Ash Wednesday was the first day many religious leaders began to tweak their ... St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill will host an art project where people send words for a banner ...

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 is one of the most solemn of Christian dates. It's the start of a weekslong period for the faithful called Lent that comes ahead of one of the most joyous of Christian holidays ...

This year, in 2025, Ash Wednesday is recognized nearly a month later on Wednesday, March 5. The day also marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts 40 days, and ends on another Christian observance ...

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season, a period of 40-some days focused on spiritual purification and repentance. It is a day of fasting for several denominations of Christian churches.

When is Ash Wednesday 2025? This year, Ash Wednesday falls on March 5. In 2025 it ends on April 17, known as Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday.

Ash Wednesday marks the Christian period of Lent, prior to the Holy Week. A Catholic faithful wears a face mask during the celebration of Ash Wednesday in Cali, Colombia, on February 17, 2021.