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.

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.

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.

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