Proposed activities must be completed by June 30, 2000. March 1 is observed in Wales as St. David's Day , patron saint of Wales. March 2 begins Ala , a 19-day fast observed by Baha'is in preparation for Naw Ruz , the New Year. Shrove Tuesday, March 7, is the day before the Christian season of Lent. British-Canadians eat pancakes on this day, Italians cook omelettes.
Poles make special doughnuts called paczki.
Shrove Tuesday is traditionally the day that Mardi Gras or Carnival is celebrated in many parts of the world. Ash Wednesday, March 8, is the beginning of Lent in Christian religions. Some observers attend special church services, where the shape of the cross is marked on their foreheads with ashes. In ancient times, people marked times of fasting, prayer, repentance, and remorse by placing ashes on their foreheads. In most churches, the ashes for the Ash Wednesday service come from burning the palm fronds from the previous Palm Sunday celebration.