On Wednesday, millions of Christians will mark the beginning of Lent.

According to the Diocese of Allentown, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the six-and-a-half week penitential season of Lent, ending on Easter, which is Sunday, April 20, this year."On Ash Wednesday, Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross, the sign of baptism; to remind them that Lent is a time of baptismal renewal," the diocese explained. "These ashes are often made from burnt palms left over from the palms distributed on Palm Sunday the year before."The distribution of ashes will be available at local churches throughout the area Wednesday.The Lenten seasonThe season of Lent is a solemn event of prayer, penance and abstinence.The Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of Allentown, wrote to Catholics in the diocese recently about the season: "We should observe our Lenten penances to remind ourselves of what is truly important to recall that we have received, the gift of our salvation. Penance is not done with the intention of 'buying' our salvation. Rather, it is done so that we may better recall that so many of the things we think are so important are not necessary after all."Fasting andabstinenceDuring the Lenten season, Catholics are asked to fast, meaning that a person only eats one full meal or two lighter meals throughout the day, as well as abstain from eating meat and poultry on Ash Wednesday and Fridays.Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are supposed to fast on Fridays and all Catholics over the age of 14 must abstain during the 40-day period. Men and women who are in their 60th year of life, which begins on their 59th birthday, do not have to fast.Children, adults over the age of 60, the sick or frail and pregnant or nursing women are also excused from the obligation of fasting or abstaining from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. Other individuals who have a just cause for needing to be excused must ask their priest.