“45% of U.S. Catholics attended services for Ash Wednesday this year.

Source: https://thetablet.org/post-pandemic-church-numbers-gradually-increasing-but-still-lag/

A Catholic Ash Wednesday service at St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica in Chennai, India, in 2022.

Source: https://kiowacountypress.net/content/lent-here-%E2%80%93-remind-me-what-it%E2%80%99s-all-about

Bishop Wamika, who was preaching during the Ash Wednesday Mass held at Parliament, said that Christians should not fear life after death if they have lived in honor of God and performed prayer, fasting and alms giving.

Source: https://www.africanews.it/english/uganda-refocus-your-faith-during-lent/

Fasting days are down to two — Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/news/the-meat-of-the-matter-st-patrick-s-day-and-the-lenten-fast

Fat Tuesday, the traditional celebration on the day before Ash Wednesday and the begining of Lent, is marked in New Orleans with parades and marches through many neighborhoods in the city.

Source: https://bossierpress.com/continuing-the-celebration-of-the-king-of-carnival/

On Ash Wednesday, it was a common sight to see Austin Tankers with their bonnets up and broken down, after their fuel had vaporised from the heat.

Source: https://ferntreegully.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2023-02-16/fires-arent-supposed-to-do-that-on-the-ground-on-ash-wednesday/

The ancient tradition, which sees players compete to move a ball to opposite ends of Ashbourne, is played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64743681?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

There are a few more days to indulge in Mardi Gras food and drink specials before the fasting of Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, which is the official start of Lenten season when those observing go meatless on Fridays for 40 days leading up to Easter.

Source: https://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20230215/mardi-gras-2023-suburban-restaurants-letting-the-good-times-roll

This is the first time in two years that Filipinos could celebrate Ash Wednesday physically following restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/22/marcos-ash-wednesday-message-continue-serving-others/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=marcos-ash-wednesday-message-continue-serving-others

With two exceptions (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday), a bishops’ conference can decide on how and whether to apply the ordinary rules.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/news/the-meat-of-the-matter-st-patrick-s-day-and-the-lenten-fast

Yet colleague Jay is hosting, not one, but two pageants, side-by-side with barn livestock at Agricultural fair….on an Ash Wednesday.

Source: https://caymannewsservice.com/2023/02/government-looking-for-way-out-of-pageant-business/