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. Rules in this respect have now been relaxed considerably, and obligatory fasting is now limited to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. There are also people that do not eat meat and sweets, every Wednesday and Friday throughout these 40 days. Holy week starts during the last week of lent with Palm Sunday, commemorated a week before Easter Sunday.