Ash Wednesday signifies the end of the Carnival festivities and the start of Lent for Catholics, a season of reflection and preparation for Easter. Many people in Brazil celebrate Carnival with vibrant parties and parades, but Ash Wednesday calls for a return to more solemn practices. It is a day of fasting and abstinence, where Catholics are encouraged to refrain from eating meat as a form of penitence. According to Father Kleber Rodrigues da Silva, the day holds significant liturgical meaning, symbolizing a time for spiritual cleansing and contemplation. The Church guides its members to embrace this period of reflection, which comprises 40 days of dedication, excluding Sundays. This commitment helps the faithful to realign their actions and thoughts in readiness for the Easter celebrations. The practice of abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday is rooted in the traditions of the Church and serves to cultivate a sense of sacrifice and humility. It informs Catholics that Lent is a journey that requires discipline and intention, fostering a deeper spiritual connection with the significance of Easter and the resurrection it commemorates.