 On this day celebrate mass by putting ash on people head so sometimes called it also "l-Erbgħa tal-Irmied" and after the evening mass held a procession like a pilgrimage with the statue of the Redeemer ("Ir-Redentur") among the centre of many localities in Malta and Gozo, the biggest pilgrimage held at Senglea.Preparations for the solemn Easter festivities commence forty (40) days before Easter Sunday ("Ħadd il-Għid"), starting on Ash Wednesday, which in itself is the first day of penitential period following the end of the Carnival celebrations.The older generation will recall that not so many years ago fasting ("sawm") on a daily basis was obligatory.