Ash Wednesday A cross of ashes on a worshippers forehead on Ash Wednesday Observed byMany Western Christians TypeChristendom ObservancesDivine Liturgy, Holy Mass, Service of worship Marking of an ash cross on the forehead DateWednesday in seventh week before Easter 2013 dateFebruary 13 2014 dateMarch 5 2015 dateFebruary 18 2016 dateFebruary 10 Frequencyannual Related toShrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Lent Easter Liturgical year Western Advent Christmastide Ordinary Time Septuagesima/Pre-Lent/Shrovetide Lent Holy Week Paschal Triduum Eastertide Pentecost Ordinary Time Eastern Nativity Fast Christmastide Ordinary Time Septuagesima/Pre-Great Lent Great Lent Eastertide Apostles Fast Ordinary Time Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar, directly following Shrove Tuesday.[1] Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a moveable feast that can fall as early as February 4 and as late as March 10. According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus Christ spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan.[2][3] Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting or abstinence. Of the 46 days until Easter, six are Sundays. As the Christian sabbath, Sundays are not included in the fasting period and are instead feast days during Lent. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a celebration and reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous years
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:01:47 +0000
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