This is the week of Ash Wednesday, a solemn day of fasting and reflection that marks the beginning of Lent, the most penitential season in the church calendar for Catholics and many other Christians.
On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church for a service that emphasizes the beginning of a season of contemplation, self-denial, and repentance from sin.
Worshipers receive ashes, usually imposed in the form of a cross on the forehead. The performer usually says: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” which is a stark reminder that death is a part of life and that one should focus on matters of the spirit. Or the official says: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Ash Wednesday is a mandatory day of fasting for Roman Catholics aged 18 to 59, which means limiting food to one full meal and two smaller meals than usual.
Many Protestants — especially those in Episcopal, Lutheran, and other historic churches — also celebrate Ash Wednesday with similar rituals.
In recent years, many Episcopal and other churches in the United States have begun offering “ashes to go” in parking lots, railroad stations and other places. Clergy offer to impose ashes on busy workers and others who wish to participate in the ritual but may not have enough time to get to church.
Priests from various denominations offer ashes in airport chapels and other locations.
Traditions vary among other Protestants, such as Baptists and other evangelical groups. Some celebrate Ash Wednesday and Lent, others do not. But they often have their own traditions of penance and asceticism. For example, many Pentecostals fast for a period of January to consecrate the coming year.
Members of one of the world’s largest religions are also about to begin a season of prayer and fasting. The beginning of Ramadan and the beginning of Lent may fall on the same date – certainly during the same week – this year.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, which leads to celebrations of Jesus’ death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter.
Ash Wednesday is determined by counting down the 40 days from Easter, minus the Sundays.
Different churches have found different ways of counting the traditional forty days of Lent, but the number itself is important. It relates to the biblical symbol of the number 40, which is typically used during times of testing, judgment, purification, or renewal. It refers directly to the forty days that Jesus fasted in the wilderness after his baptism, in preparation for his public ministry.
During Lent, believers devote themselves to prayer and other devotions, as well as charity, fasting and other forms of self-discipline. People talk about giving up something for Lent – stereotypical chocolate, but in reality anything one finds difficult to give up. These days, that might mean cutting down on screen time.
Many churches also have additional times for worship and other activities. Catholics often have group meditations on the Stations of the Cross, marking the various events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.
Devout Catholics also abstain from eating meat on Friday, but not fish.
To this point, fasting is not all serious. For many Catholic dioceses in the United States, Friday fried fish It has become a tradition that combines food, fundraising and community bonding.
Ash Wednesday is not a fixed date. Its timing is related to Easter Sunday. For most Christians, Easter will fall on April 5 this year.
Easter moves annually, oscillating between March 22 and April 25 Old formula Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring.
Eastern Orthodox Christians count the beginning and end of Lent differently. They begin their celebrations on Monday – this year on February 23 – which they call “Clean Monday” or “Pure Monday.” Although they do not use ashes, they begin a period of penance and fasting. Lent continues during the Friday before Holy Week, including Sundays.
The dates of Lent are also set side by side Orthodox accounts Easter (Passover), which differs from Western churches. Orthodox Easter is April 12 this year and, as is the case in most years, comes later than Catholic and Protestant celebrations.
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