Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and falls between February 4th and March 11th, 6 1/2 weeks before Easter. Early penitents were sprinkled with ashes, wore sackcloth, and were required to remain apart from the rest of the community until they were reconciled on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter.The most obvious mark of celebrating Ash Wednesday is the blessing and application of ashes to the foreheads of those who participat. By the 11th century this custom had largely disappeared and was replaced with the distribution of ashes during the services and their application to the foreheads of all members of a congregation. Traditionally this is accompanied by “Remember you are dust and will return to dust,” but today “Turn from sin and live the gospel” is often used.

http://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/jan2003/ashwednesday.htm