Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of abstinence and repentance. It occurs 46 days before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent, 40 days of fasting and penance. According to the Bible, Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert before fulfilling His prophecy to die on the cross.
The ashes used in Ash Wednesday services are made from palm branches burned on Palm Sunday the previous year. Read this article to learn more about Ash Wednesday.
Contents
History: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday will be celebrated as the first day of Lent. It falls every six and a half weeks before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. It is a season of repentance before the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.
Although Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, it isn’t clearly stated in the Bible. The celebration of Ash Wednesday can be traced back to the 11th century. At the same time, the use of Lenten ash has earlier roots that can be traced to the ancient customs in Hebrew, where people clothe themselves with sackcloth and dust themselves with ashes as a form of penitence.
Traditionally, an early Catholic priest and his followers gave up foods like meat and dairy until Lent was finally over. In the present, people see abstinence as forgoing bad habits that alter or refrain from doing usual things like going to a party, indulging in too much sugar or candy, or throwing extravagant parties. These sacrifices reflect the 40-day period of Christ’s fasting in the desert.
When Is Ash Wednesday In 2023?
Ash Wednesday 2023 falls on February 22, 2023. Its celebration happens 46 days before Easter—following Shrove Tuesday—and marks the end of Lent. On the other hand, Easter Sunday should fall on the Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox.
Because Easter Sunday is a moveable holiday, Ash Wednesday is also flexible regarding the date. The observance of Easter Sundays serves as a basis for other important dates in Christianity.
How Is Ash Wednesday In 2023 Marked In Christianity?
In celebration of the holiday, people follow the tradition of drawing a cross on their forehead using the ashes created from burnt palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. On some occasions, ashes from dried palms are sprinkled over their heads during mass.
Both practices are a sign of asking forgiveness for sin and a reminder that we will return from the dust we came from and into dust we shall return.
How Is Ash Wednesday Important?
As the first day of Holy Week, Ash Wednesday holds great significance for Catholics and Christians. This day awakened the people of the period when Jesus went to the desert before His crucifixion. It also serves as a time to focus on what is essential and the start of the long wait for the world’s salvation.
As we receive ashes on this holy day, we practice our tradition in action and prayer as we prepare ourselves for the day Jesus rose from the dead after Lent. On Ash Wednesday, we also recognize the need for conversion from being broken to becoming whole once more.
How To Observe Ash Wednesday
The observance of Ash Wednesday is not only limited to the tradition of fasting but also extends through almsgiving, praying, attending mass, and building a ministry to spread the gospel and create a lasting relationship with others.
Prayer isn’t only in the tradition of the Catholic church but can also include the intentional reading of the gospel and a careful understanding of the Bible from the New and Old Testaments.
Why Do People Fast On Ash Wednesday?
In Christianity, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are times of fasting. More than the traditions, skipping one full meal is observed as penance and to give way for the spirit to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Fasting also allows people to embody their hunger for Christ, who fasted for 40 nights before his crucifixion on the cross.
What Are You Supposed To Eat?
Catholics and Christians who celebrate Ash Wednesday are expected to give up eating meat every Friday, starting on the first day of Lent. People also fast on Ash Wednesday and consume smaller meals instead of the entire meal they consume on a typical day, while others skip the meat and eat vegetables and fish. Other people consider it self-sacrifice and part of the traditions and practices of their religion.
Age Requirement
Catholics from ages 18 to 59 must observe fasting and pray on Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, people are obliged to abstain from meat, fast, and attend church services to prepare their hearts for the Easter season.
What Is The Significance Of The Ashes On The Foreheads?
On Ash Wednesday, also called the Day of the Ashes, Roman Catholics and some Christians receive ashes on their foreheads in the form of a cross.
On this holy day, the ashes symbolize both the death and repentance of the people in preparation for the Lenten season. It marks the time for people to reflect on their sins before the Easter season, when Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is celebrated.
Churches utilize palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday church services. The palm leaves are incinerated and turned into ash. While the pastor or priest spreads ashes on the foreheads, he will say, “From dust you came, and into dust you shall return[1].”
Although Ash Wednesday and the ash cross on the foreheads are not mentioned in the Bible, they often symbolize men’s sin and sorrow. Thus, Ash Wednesday marks the start of repentance, fasting, and renunciation and signifies the solemn beginning of Lent.
Bible Verses For Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is a symbolic date for all people walking with the Lord Jesus Christ, as it marks the beginning of Lent. As we celebrate Ash Wednesday, here are some Bible verses that will help you meditate and reflect on important things for you as you observe the celebration.
Get rid of the old yeast so that you may have a new batch without yeast—as you are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the festival not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, sincerity, and truth.
— 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life; for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.”
— John 3:16-17
Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles performed on you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
— Luke 10:13
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
— Joel 2:12-14
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
— John 20:19
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
— Esther 4:1-3
Prayer For The Day Of Ashes
Our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus,
Show mercy on us. As one church, we offer you our sins. May the ash on our foreheads remind us that we would be dust without your grace and mercy. As this Ash Wednesday observes the beginning of Lent, be with us as we repent and believe in preparation for the day you will come again.
By your Holy Spirit, we pray that you give us conviction as we go in abstinence and repentance. Remind us of your holy sacrifice, and do not let the devil’s works win over us, your followers and worshipers. With these ashes on our foreheads, we, your people, the Roman Catholic Church, await the holy day when we are redeemed, restored, and can no longer bend because of temptation.
In blessed Christ’s name, we pray.
Amen.
Conclusion
Ash Wednesday is a day of reflection and repentance for Christians. It observes the beginning of the season of Lent, which is a time for us to reflect on our actions, thoughts, and behaviors, encouraging us to prepare to celebrate Easter. The ashes applied to our foreheads during Ash Wednesday remind us that we are mortal and will all eventually die. This is a symbol of our need to repent and turn away from our sins, urging us to live a life with purpose and humility.
