Ash Wednesday
The quiet start of Lent, marked in ash and reflection.
Ash Wednesday opens the 40-day season of Lent in Western Christianity, falling 46 days before Easter Sunday. During services, ashes, traditionally made from burned palms of the previous year's Palm Sunday, are marked on worshippers' foreheads in the shape of a cross as a sign of repentance and mortality. Begin the season with our Prayers collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ash Wednesday and what does it mark?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and repentance leading up to Easter. It always falls forty-six days before Easter Sunday.
Why do worshippers receive ashes on their forehead?
In many denominations, a priest marks the forehead with ash, typically in the shape of a cross, saying words such as "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes traditionally come from burning the previous year's Palm Sunday palms, symbolizing mortality and repentance.
How do people mark the day beyond attending Mass?
Many Christians begin a Lenten fast or give up a habit for the forty days, alongside increased charitable giving, sometimes turning to Prayers written specifically for this season of reflection.
What is the broader significance of the Lenten season that begins on this day?
Lent is meant to be a period of self-examination and spiritual discipline preparing believers for Easter, echoing Jesus's forty days of fasting in the wilderness. People often share Quotes about repentance, humility, and renewal throughout the season.
The words spoken while marking the ashes, often "remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," set the tone for a season centred on fasting, prayer, and reflection. Many churches also encourage giving something up or taking on a new spiritual practice through Lent. Our Quotes collection offers thoughtful lines to carry into the season.
