Ash Wednesday is a holy day of Christian people in the world. It marks the starting of Lent, fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline.

History of Ash Wednesday is found around the 6th century, when Pope Gregory the Great introduced the use of ashes

[{"selector":"#anim-cd054979-95db-4a2f-80b5-d178961dc55d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46a42fa9-dd9e-401f-9a20-96de68f1d170","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The ashes are made from palm branches that were blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year.

[{"selector":"#anim-b803b958-f837-48ea-943a-9a2641e77fc8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0608c575-490f-4e67-ba08-9561cd52f0f4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Significance of Ashes are an ancient symbol of repentance, mourning, and humility.

[{"selector":"#anim-07d20d13-8e47-445b-b7c2-53256d9fce78","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}]

Ash Wednesday is celebrated by Christians receiving ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

[{"selector":"#anim-1cf458ec-d66a-47fc-b324-0b9ff5bd5814","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa059ce3-7d6e-4ac7-9982-d022c937d8c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Lent is a season of spiritual preparation for Easter in the remembrance of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[{"selector":"#anim-af9397e6-8d4c-4e0b-9c52-98d66d007e5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd70b2e8-ab8c-422f-b810-8271d021671f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Ash Wednesday is mostly celebrated in United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and Australia.

[{"selector":"#anim-f1de5a7b-4410-41a6-a58b-b7e41d5ce4fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0a28619-7447-4b65-b9a3-aa99201873b9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Denominations of Roman Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians celebrate the "Ash Wednesday"

[{"selector":"#anim-646490eb-b4c1-4b0b-a406-d4f7ba1606c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d2e8b76-3b9d-47cb-bf5f-cb0aa734aaa6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Church plays a vital role in the Ash Wednesday observation for Lent, providing spiritual guidance, support, and opportunities for worship.

[{"selector":"#anim-ff4bba4d-efae-48eb-95f6-bf16281809a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fac5a34-7bc3-4014-8121-1352dbc8bae4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Purple color is the symbolism of Ash Wednesday which indicates the repentance, mourning, preparation, and royalty.

[{"selector":"#anim-d88c00a9-bbb2-4c4e-8cf3-6d93cb775f05","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5cf772f-cd77-4e53-99db-4e86f78e9029","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Freaky Funtoosh

[{"selector":"#anim-73220e53-cc85-4aee-bfbb-3b11ffb003a0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] Learn more