Roman Catholic Ash Wednesday Traditions

Today is Ash Wednesday, and marks the beginning of Lent. So what is Ash Wednesday and why? What do Catholics do to mark the day?

To start with, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter. It is viewed as a day of reflection on our sins and transgressions, and a day to repent. It does not fall on a specific date, since Easter itself does not fall on a specific date, and Ash Wednesday can fall anywhere from February 4 to March 10.

Catholics mark the day with a special mass in which the Priest marks first his own forehead and then those of the worshipers with the sign of the cross, made of palm ashes. The ashes are generally those saved from the previous Palm Sunday. Sometimes they are mixed with holy water and/or oil to make a paste. As the Priest makes the sign of the cross, he says:

"Remember, O Man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return."
"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."
"Repent, and hear the good news."

Clearly, this is a tradition rooted in penance and reflection on our sins over the past year.

The ash is generally left on until after sundown, when it can be washed off.

Catholics are also supposed to fast on Ash Wednesday. The rules for fasting, per the Catholic church, are that Catholics should only eat one full meal. They can supplement this with two smaller meals, which cannot, combined, equal the full meal. In reality, many Catholics who choose to observe the fast follow stricter rules of fasting, abstaining completely from food and drink, or eating only bread and drinking water.

An interesting side note about Ash Wednesday is that because the ritual is considered a sacramental, and not one of the sacraments, it is not restricted to Roman Catholics. Anyone who identifies as Christian may partake in Ash Wednesday ceremonies.