The Christian observance of Ash Wednesday is just weeks away, falling on March 5 this year. The observance marks the start of lent, the season leading up to Easter; it's is one of five key periods ...

Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent ... of Lent is that it lasts 40 days (excluding Sundays), which is intended to mirror Christ's 40 days in the wilderness, where he faced temptation from Satan.