Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent, when many Christians receive a cross of ashes on the forehead.
When: The Wednesday that begins Lent (a movable date set by Easter)
Origin and history
Ash Wednesday begins Lent, the season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving before Easter. Wearing ashes has been a sign of repentance since biblical times. At church services ashes are placed on the forehead, usually in the sign of a cross, with the words 'Repent, and believe in the Gospel' or 'Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.' The ashes are made by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
Customs
- Receiving ashes at a church service.
- Fasting and not eating meat, in several churches.
- Choosing a Lenten sacrifice, something to give up until Easter, and beginning a Lenten devotional or calendar.
How traditions differ
Ash Wednesday is kept by Catholics, Lutherans, Moravians and Anglicans, and by some Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed and Baptist churches. Eastern Orthodox churches do not keep Ash Wednesday; their Great Lent begins on Clean Monday.
In the library
Works: The Bible
More in Lent
Shrove Tuesday · Lent · St Patrick's Day · St Joseph's Day · The Annunciation
Sources checked: Ash Wednesday (Wikipedia); Lent (Wikipedia).