Actually we are starting activities on Sunday too.
Even though I am in the "thick" of Pennsylvania Dutch Fastnacht country my congregation's Lenten prepration begin on Transfiguration Sunday (Quiquagesima) when the children bake homemade pretzels and then distribute them during the Liturgy as a reminder of the coming Lenten disciplines of prayer (pretzel arms resemble a prayer posture) fasting (a simple food) and almsgiving (pretzels given as a gift to one and all).