DaysUntilNowHow Many Days Until Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter Sunday
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When exactly is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday opens Lent, the 40-day period of fasting before Easter. The count works out to 46 calendar days because the six Sundays in between are not counted as fast days.
The name comes from the ashes marked on the forehead in a cross, traditionally made by burning the palm fronds kept from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. It is observed by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans and Methodists among others, and while it is not a public holiday almost anywhere, it is one of the most visible days in the Christian calendar.
Upcoming dates
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | February 10, 2027 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | March 1, 2028 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | February 14, 2029 | Wednesday |
Frequently asked questions
When is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter Sunday.
Why is Lent 40 days but Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter?
Sundays are excluded. Every Sunday is considered a celebration of the resurrection, so it is not counted as a fast day. Six Sundays fall within the period, and 46 minus 6 gives the traditional 40 — a number chosen to echo the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness.