As we progress through the Lenten Season, we are also progressing through
what are (hopefully) the waning days of winter and the arrival of spring. In
our last entry regarding some common questions people have about this time
of year, we learned why the season is the length we have accepted as
routine.
"The Church set the period of Lent at 40 days (excluding Sundays) in order
to remind people of the duration of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness."

Which raises the question..
Why not count Sundays?
Sunday is always a celebration of Jesus' victory over death. Even
during Lent, Sunday is a "little Easter".
How do Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday relate to Lent?
Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the last day before Lent.
Since Lent was traditionally a time of fasting, the day before it began was
always a feast day. People had to use up eggs, butter, and other perishables
that would not last through the Lenten season, and Fat Tuesday was
celebrated with many traditional and tasty baked goods. Pancakes! The
next day, Ash Wednesday, was the official beginning of Lent. After
prayers, people would have their foreheads marked with ashes as sign of
their repentance and humility - who we are and whose we are.
Next question...How is the date of Easter determined every year?