In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It occurs forty-six days before Easter, but Lent is nevertheless considered forty days long, because Sundays in this period are not counted among the days of Lent. It falls on different dates from year to year, according to the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. "Remember, man, that you are dust And unto dust you shall return." (Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.) or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." or