Each year, many Christians observe Lent, a 40-day period of reflection and self-discipline that precedes Easter Sunday. The dates of the observation change year over year, depending on when Easter falls.

Lent starts Wednesday, March 5, and runs through April 17, 2025. In the Christian church, Lent is a period of spiritual reflection before Easter. In Western churches, it begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is on Wednesday, March 5.

Beginning March 4, many Americans will find themselves busy with Easter season and its holidays. Here are the key dates to remember, and what they mean