Ash Wednesday (always six and a half weeks before Easter, so this year it's on the 2nd March) marks the start of the holy season of Lent, which is traditionally marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

It is also a day of fasting (eating much less than usual), and of abstinence, when we are asked to abstain from meat. This year Pope Francis, along with many Church of England Bishops, has called for the day to be a special one of fasting and prayer for the people of Ukraine and for peace there.