The Roman Catholic Church requires its followers to practice abstinence from meat and fasting on Ash Wednesday.

This will be the church's 11th year of 'Ash and Dash' at Faith Lutheran, where people can get ashes in their vehicle before heading off to work or school.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the time leading up to Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Clergy members will be on hand to offer a short prayer and ashes at multiple locations in the area.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, Christianity's 40-day season of prayer, fasting and giving in preparation for Jesus Christ' resurrection.

“Ash Wednesday is a way of looking ahead to Easter,” Father Morrill said. “And here in the Northern Hemisphere, that also means looking ahead to spring.” Ashes are made from the palms blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year, and the tradition of placing them on penitents dates to the 11th century.

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Catholics in the Philippines lined up outside a church in Manila on Wednesday to have their foreheads marked with ash in observance of Ash Wednesday.

Following the parades and parties of Mardi Gras, people across the Baton Rouge area will mark Ash Wednesday.