PHOTOS: Ash Wednesday service in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - Churches throughout the Corridor marked the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday services.

While the exact date of Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent changes each year, it always takes place in February or March. It lasts for 40 days, excluding Sundays, before the celebration of Easter, which this year falls on April 16. The 40 days is in recognition of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels.

Lent is traditionally marked by some type of sacrifice people make to reflect the sacrifices of Jesus. This often involves giving up some type of vice, like social media, drinking alcohol or eating certain foods. Some people commit to performing positive acts each day during Lent.

The word 'Lent” is a shortened version of the old English word 'Lenten,” which means 'spring.”