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Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which occurs 46 days before Easter. It is preceded each year by Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras. Ash Wednesday is on March 9 this year (2011).

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Ash Wednesday

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  1. When and what is Ash Wednesday?

    Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six d...

  2. Ash wednesday 2012?

    Easter: April 8, 2012 Ash Wednesday: Feb. 22. Easter: March 3...

  3. When is ash wednesday this year? (2009)?

    February 25, 2009 was Ash Wednesday.

  4. How is Ash Wednesday determined?

    In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first...

  5. What does the ash symbolize at ash wednesday?

    In Ash Wednesday services churchgoers are marked on the foreh...

  1. What do you do for Ash Wednesday?

    It's the first day of Lent. Different faiths celebrate it dif...

  2. What is the history of Ash Wednesday?

    Ash Wednesday in Western Church, 1st day of Lent, being the 7...

  3. When and what is Ash Wednesday?

    Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six d...

  4. Ash wednesday 2012?

    Easter: April 8, 2012 Ash Wednesday: Feb. 22. Easter: March 3...

  5. How is Ash Wednesday determined?

    In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Ash Wednesday

In the Last:
Week | Month

  1. What does ash wednesday represent?

    Ash Wednesday represents the beginning of Lent. The ashes are...

  2. Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation for Catholics? MORE?

    The liturgical imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is a sacr...

  3. Is ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?

    Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation but it is stron...

  4. What is ash Wednesday and what is Lent?

    Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It i...

  5. What does Ash Wednesday mean?

    Ash Wednesday is the 7th Wednesday before Easter, the first d...

  1. What does ash wednesday represent?

    Ash Wednesday represents the beginning of Lent. The ashes are...

  2. What is ash Wednesday and what is Lent?

    Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It i...

  3. Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation for Catholics? MORE?

    The liturgical imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is a sacr...

  4. Why does lent start on ash wednesday?

    This is because: Lent is a time when many Christians prepare ...

  5. What does Ash Wednesday mean?

    Ash Wednesday is the 7th Wednesday before Easter, the first d...

About Ash Wednesday

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday occurs forty-six days before Easter, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter.

The name, Ash Wednesday, comes from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful. The ashes are from the burning of the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday. In some churches, the ashes are mixed with the sacred oils used for those about to be baptized, though some churches use ordinary oil. This is then used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those attending services. As the ashes are places upon the head, the minister recites the words: Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return, or Repent, and believe the Gospel.

Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance.

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Ash Wednesday