Ash Wednesday is one week away and begins the Christian season of Lent. The 6-week period that leads up to Easter. What we know on date, meaning and more.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, a day in which many Christians attend a church service and receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. The gesture dates back thousands of years to the Old Testament, where displaying ashes served as a sign of someone's humility before God, as well as a symbol of repentance.

It's the season of Lent. Why do Christians celebrate the season for 40 days? Here's what to know about the holiday leading up to Easter.