Lorraine 'Tootie' Minehart receives ashes from the Rev. John Baver at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church during the church's Ash Wednesday service. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lenten season in the Christian tradition, which is a 40-day period in which Christians prepare their hearts for Christ’s resurrection on Easter.

Eighth-grader Mason Etzel receives ashes from the Rev. Kevin Fazio during an Ash Wednesday service in the Butler Catholic School auditorium in Butler on Wednesday. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

JOSEPH RESSLER

Rose, left, and Caleigh Pawluk, 4, center, of Evans City receives ashes from the Rev. John Baver at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church during the church's Ash Wednesday service. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

Those of the Catholic faith are not to eat meat on Ash Wednesday or any Friday during Lent, which is the reason for the popularity of the many Lenten fish fries at churches and halls across the county.

Seventh grader Adam Coffman receives ashes from the Rev. Kevin Fazio during an Ash Wednesday service in the Butler Catholic School auditorium in Butler on Wednesday. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

JOSEPH RESSLER

Catholics also received a blessing on Ash Wednesday at their local parish, where a priest places the sign of the cross on their forehead with ashes that represent their acknowledgment of sin.

Marsha Dash receives ashes from the Rev. John Baver at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church during the church's Ash Wednesday service. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

The ashes are usually from palms kept from the previous year’s Palm Sunday mass, and are blessed after being burned.

Many Catholics also give up one or more of their favorite things during Lent as a sign of their willingness to sacrifice for Christ, who they believe paid the ultimate price for their sins.

Seventh grader Brea Kelley listens at the end of an Ash Wednesday service in the Butler Catholic School auditorium in Butler on Wednesday. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

JOSEPH RESSLER