by Maureen Cutajar

Created on: January 30, 2010   Last Updated: July 26, 2010

Ash Wednesday marks the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday and it is the first day of the forty weekdays of Lent which are traditionally observed as a period of sacrifice, introspection and solemn prayer by the Christians. The “celebration” of Ash Wednesday is a misnomer to a certain extent since Ash Wednesday is a day of contrition and solemn reflection for the Christians.

• The Forty Days of Lent

The spiritual period of Lent was first introduced in the fourth century of the Church and Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of this holy period. Lent spanned for forty weekdays and was concluded on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Traditionally the period of Lent was a time of reflection, prayer and study for those individuals who were to join the Christian Church through baptism which historically occurred on Easter Sunday. Today Lent is a period of solemn prayer, introspection, and repentance for the Christians and it serves as a period of preparation prior to the celebrations of Easter Sunday.

The Sundays that occur during the period of Lent are not counted as part of the forty days of Lent but are referred to as the Sundays in Lent which celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The forty days of Lent are observed to remind the Christians of the forty days of temptation that Jesus had to face and conquer before his final and ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

• The Tradition of Ash Wednesday

Traditionally on Ash Wednesday ash was placed on the foreheads of sinners who repented publicly for their sins and were brought before the people attending worship at the Christian Church, hence the derivation of its name. However the Christian tradition today is that Christian sinners and worshippers alike are marked with ash as a sign of repentance and humility before God. The ash is also a symbol of the wages of sin and it also represents a precursor of the pending death of Christ on the cross. On Ash Wednesday Christians find the time for introspection and repentance to better themselves as virtuous and devout Christians.

• The Onset of the Period of Sacrifice

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the period of sacrifice and contrition of Lent.  Traditionally the forty days of Lent were a period of fasting and profound sacrifice. However, today fasting has been cut down by the Christian Church to the fundamental days of Lent such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Many Christians observe the period of Lent as a time of sacrifice and charity and as a preparation for the holy feast of Easter Sunday.

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