Ash Wednesday, also known as, The Day of The Ashes, marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten Period, which ends with an Easter celebration.
In Christendom, it is a day of somber reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Ashes are gathered from the burned palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday.
When the officiating Priest applies the Ash on the forehead of the Faithful, he says “Remember that you are dust and unto dust, you shall return.”
Ash Wednesday has a non-Christian origin but was accepted into the Faith at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
The Council also settled on the 40-day fast period as the standard length to celebrate Lent.
In 601, Pope Gregory moved the beginning of Lent from the Fourth Sunday of the year to Ash Wednesday.
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He also instituted the tradition of marking the Faithful’s foreheads with ashes in the shape of a Cross.
Some Protestant denominations such as Anglican, Episcopalians, Lutherans, United Methodists, and Presbyterians observe the Ash Wednesday celebration.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
