The annual Lenten season is here again, and this time, it synchronize perfectly with the global day of love.
Non-Catholics around the world have always wondered what Ash Wednesday is all about. Who are we celebrating? Why the use of Ash? What does the Ash stand for? and how exactly do they go about the lenten period? These questions and many more will be answered in the list below:
1. What is Ash Wednesday all about?: Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christian community. It is a 40 day fasting period (excluding the six Sundays which are not fast days). It usually end before Easter and can fall as early as 4th of February or as late as 10th of March. The Lent mirrors the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert.
2. Who is Ash Wednesday Celebrating?: Unlike other mapped out days in the calendar year, Ash Wednesday is not a day of celebration. It is a day of sober reflection on the life we have lived it also stand as a reminder of the fact that all humans will return to dust someday. We are encouraged to do away with attitudes that does not reflect the life of Jesus on Ash Wednesday.
3. Why the use of Ash?: Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
4. When does the 2018 Lenten period start and stop?: The 2018 lenten period starts today 14th of February and ends on the 29th of March. It will herald the Christian community into the Easter celebrations. So now, you can officially start your countdown to Easter.
5. Who and who observe Ash Wednesday?: Ash Wednesday is observed by many Western Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and some Baptists.
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