Ash Wednesday lent_After the excitement of Mardi Gras comes the somber tone of Lent, starting today with Ash Wednesday. Lent is described as 40 days of fasting until Easter, but there are more than 40 days between today and Easter. What's up?

The period of fasting and penitence that falls between today and Easter excludes Sundays, which aren't subject to the Lenten rules. It's 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, but subtracting the six Sundays leaves 40 days.
Mardi Gras is the last blowout before Lent, which for many Christians is a time for preparing for Easter and recalling Christ's fasting and meditation in the wilderness before he began his public life, according to an article at about.com.

The ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross are a symbol of mortality and a call to repentance.