Understanding Ash Wednesday

What is Ash Wednesday? What is it's significance and how have traditions changed?

In 2009, Ash Wednesday will fall of February 25^th. Ash Wednesday falls the day after Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. It falls on the seventh Wednesday before Easter.

Ash Wednesday is celebrated as the first day of Lent. It originated in the fourth century of the church. It falls on a different date each year, because it falls 40 days before Easter, not including the Sundays.

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the forehead as a public display of penitence. The ashes used for this ritual are from the burned ashes of the previous year's Palm Crosses on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the Sunday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. The ashes are mixed with an oil, either a sacramental oil or plain oil, depending on the church. A cleric, or specially appointed layman places the ashes on the forehead of worshipers in the shape of a cross and reads a scripture to each parishioner. In some churches, worshipers write down sins they wish to be forgiven on white cards and as they kneel at the alter the cards are burned. The ashes are worn until sundown.

In the early church, ashes were only used to mark the forehead of worshipers who had made public confession of sin. However, over the years others began to show their humility and identification with the penitents by asking that they, too, be marked as sinners. Now, ashes are extended to the whole congregation.

In the Roman Catholic church and some protestant churches as well, Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting or abstinence from meat. Fasting is interpreted a little differently according to specific faiths. To some, fasting means one meal, plus two smaller meals that equal less than one meal combined. To others it can mean simply an abstinence from meat and for others it is a true fasting with no meals eaten that day or only bread and water.

The significance of Ash Wednesday is to repent from our sins and to prepare for the Lenten period. Originally Lent began on a Sunday. In modern times, Lent is designated as the 40 days before Easter (not including Sundays) to represent the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the wilderness preparing for his ministry.

While traditionally, Ash Wednesday services were conducted in the morning, due to lifestyles in the 21^st century, many churches are open all day for Ash Wednesday or offer evening Ash Wednesday services.

Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians and United Methodist celebrate Ash Wednesday. But regardless of one's particular faith, the purpose for Ash Wednesday has never changed as it is a day for introspection, self examination, to reflect on past sins, to repent and to prepare for Easter.