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Today marks the beginning of the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. The day and the season are mostly associated with Roman Catholicism, but the tradition is also observed by denominations including, but not limited to, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists and Presbyterians. And, according to a Salt Lake Tribune article, many Protestant denominations that had once regarded Lent as a non-Biblical ritual are increasingly incorporating Lent into their observances.

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches also observe Lent, though their observance began two days earlier on Ash Monday.

A common thread among all denominations is a period where Christians meditate on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ across a period of 40 days. Observers make a personal sacrifice during the season, and Lent commonly involves daily fasts and abstention from meat-eating.

Catholic Online has the messages and meanings of the Roman Catholic Lenten rite.

According to the Ash Wednesday page:

•The ashes, made from the charred palms used in the prior year's Palm Sunday, are a reminder of humankind's mortality. Ashes are placed on the forehead with the reminder that "Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

•The Catholic Church has a thorough code on the practices of fasting and abstinence. Fasting, or reducing the amount of food eaten during the Lenten period, must be observed by Catholics ages 18 to 59. Abstinence, or refraining from eating meat, is required of Catholics ages 14 and older on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays before Easter Sunday. The sick, pregnant and nursing women, and workers in jobs requiring strenuous manual labor are exempt from fast and abstinence.

•While Lent is a time of sacrifice, it is also a time for all observers to still carry out their obligations as students, workers and parents. So, no, vacations are not considered sacrifices.

For other questions regarding Lenten observance, Catholic Online has an FAQ page.

Easter is nearly upon us — likely the earliest Easter any of us ever has or ever will see. The next time the holiday will arrive this early in the year will be in 2228. It’s hard to believe, but Snopes — a site devoted to debunking or bolstering urban legends — confirms it, and explains how Easter’s date is determined. (It’s a long answer, but it’s based on the Hebrew calendar used to determine passover and is still related to astronomical phenomena that would have occurred at the time the Resurrection is believed to have taken place.)

So then you'll know when you’re supposed to hide those eggs, but since the holiday is officially the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, why do we hide those eggs? (It’s a shorter answer than the one to the date question, and it involves traditional rites of spring.)