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| − | {{Infobox Holiday
| + | In the Western [[Christian calendar]], Ash Wednesday is the first day of [[Lent]] and occurs forty-six days before [[Easter]]. It falls on different dates from year to year, according to the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, which lasts until Maundy Thursday evening. |
| − | |holiday_name = Ash Wednesday
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| − | |type = Christian
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| − | |image = Ashcross.jpg
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| − | |caption = A cross of ash on a worshipper's forehead on Ash Wednesday
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| − | |observedby = Western Christians
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| − | |date = Changes with Easter
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| − | |date2007 = February 21st
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| − | |date2008 = February 6th
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| − | |observances = [[Service of worship]] or [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]Marking of an ash cross on the forehead
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| − | |relatedto = [[Shrove Tuesday]]/[[Mardi Gras]][[Lent]][[Easter]]
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| − | }}
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| − | In the [[Western_Christianity|Western Christian]] [[calendar]], '''Ash Wednesday''' is the first day of [[Lent]] and occurs forty-six days before [[Easter]]. It falls on different dates from year to year, according to the [[Computus|date of Easter]]; it can occur as early as [[February 4]] or as late as [[March 10]]. | |
| − | Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, which lasts until [[Maundy Thursday]] evening. | |
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| − | ==Practices of worship and observance==
| + | {{returnto}} [[Christian calendar]] |
| − | At [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]es and [[Service of worship|services of worship]] on this day, worshipers are imposed with ashes by the celebrating [[clergy|clergyperson]]. The [[priest]] or [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]] marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, which the worshiper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown. In many Christian churches, the minister of ashes may also be a [[layperson]] or non-[[clergy]]. The symbolism echoes the ancient [[Middle East|Near Eastern]] tradition of throwing ash over one's head signifying [[repentance]] before [[God]] (as related in the [[Bible]]). The priest or minister offers the worshiper an instruction while applying the ashes. These are three examples:
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| − | {{Quotation|Remember that you are dust,
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| − | and unto dust you shall return.
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| − | :(Latin: ''Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.'')|[[God]]|[[Genesis]] 3:19}}
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| − | {{Quotation|Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.|[[Jesus]]|[[Mark]] 1:15}}
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| − | {{Quotation|Repent, and hear the good news.||}} | |
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| − | [[Image:Carl Spitzweg 003.jpg|left|thumb|150px|"Ash Wednesday" by [[Carl Spitzweg]]: the end of [[Carnival]]]]
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| − | The ashes used in the service of worship or mass are [[sacramentals]], not a [[sacrament]]. The ashes are prepared by burning [[Arecaceae|palm]] leaves from the previous year's [[Palm Sunday]] celebrations and mixing them with [[olive oil]] as a fixative.
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| − | In most liturgies for Ash Wednesday, the [[Penitential_psalms|Penitential psalms]] are read; [[Psalm 51]] is especially associated with this day. The service also often includes a corporate confession rite. Unlike the confessional rites used on Sundays and other services, there is no [[absolution]] (or 'assurance of pardon/forgiveness', as it is known in Reformed and other Protestant traditions) pronounced at the conclusion; rather, the Ash Wednesday confession rite frames the whole Lenten season, with the absolution or assurance of pardon being given at the opening of the [[Maundy Thursday]] liturgy.
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| − | In the [[Roman Catholic Church]], Ash Wednesday is observed by [[fasting]], [[abstinence]] from meat, and [[repentance]]—a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[Book of Common Prayer]] also designates Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting. In other [[Christian denominations]] these practices are optional, with the main focus being on [[repentance]]. On Ash Wednesday and [[Good Friday]], Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Roman Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat(for those Catholics age 14 and over), as are all Fridays in Lent. Some Roman Catholics continue fasting during the whole of Lent, as was the Church's traditional requirement, concluding only after the celebration of the [[Easter Vigil]].
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| − | As the first day of Lent, it comes the day after [[Shrove Tuesday]] or [[Mardi Gras]] (Fat Tuesday), the last day of the [[Carnival]] season. According to the [[Oxford English Dictionary]], the word "Carnival" is derived from [[Church Latin|Latin]] ''carnem levare'' (removal of the meat) or ''carnem laxare'' (leaving the meat).
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| − | ==Biblical significance==
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| − | Ash Wednesday is a time for repentance and the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express [[penitence]]. Dusting themselves with [[Ash|ashes]] was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing his penitence is found in [[Book of Job|Job]] 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (c. 5-6, [[KJV]]) Other examples are found in several other [[Books of the Bible|books of the Bible]] including, [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 19:9, 17, [[Epistle to the Hebrews|Hebrews]] 9:13, [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] 3:6, [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 11:21, and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 10:13.
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| − | However, some [[Christians]], who do not celebrate Ash Wednesday, say that the practice is not consistent with [[Holy Bible|Scripture]]. They usually cite [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 6:16–18, where Jesus gave guidelines for fasting: "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (NRSV) These groups argue that [[Jesus]] warned against fasting to gain favor from other people and that he also warned his followers that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were [[fasting]]. For these reasons, some Christian denominations do not endorse the practice. Others, however, point out that this very passage from Matthew is the one, not coincidentally, that is appointed by the [[Revised Common Lectionary]] to be ''read'' on Ash Wednesday.
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| − | ==Dates==
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| − | In [[2008]], Ash Wednesday falls on [[February 6]]. Ash Wednesday will occur on the following dates in the following years:
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| − | * [[2008]] - [[February 6]]
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| − | * [[2009]] - [[February 25]]
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| − | * [[2010]] - [[February 17]]
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| − | * [[2011]] - [[March 9]]
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| − | * [[2012]] - [[February 22]]
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| − | * [[2013]] - [[February 13]]
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| − | * [[2014]] - [[March 5]]
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| − | * [[2015]] - [[February 18]]
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| − | * [[2016]] - [[February 10]]
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| − | * [[2017]] - [[March 1]]
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| − | * [[2018]] - [[February 14]]
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| − | * [[2019]] - [[March 6]]
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| − | == Denominations observing Ash Wednesday ==
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| − | These [[Christian denominations]] are among those that mark Ash Wednesday by holding a [[service of worship]] or [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]:
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| − | <!-- alphabetically arranged -->
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| − | * [[Anglican Church|Anglican/Episcopal churches]]
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| − | * [[Lutheran Church|Lutheran churches]]
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| − | * [[United Methodist Church|Methodist churches]]
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| − | * [[Reformed churches|Reformed churches]] ([[Presbyterian]], [[United Church of Christ]], others)
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| − | * [[Roman Catholic Church]]
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| − | * [[Wesleyan Church|Wesleyan churches]]
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| − | <!-- alphabetically arranged -->
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | * [http://www.ash-wednesday.org Ash Wednesday history, reflections, prayers]
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| − | * [http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/AshWednesday.htm An Episcopal Ash Wednesday Service]
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| − | * [http://www.textweek.com/festivals/ash.htm The Text This Week:] Ash Wednesday
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| − | * [http://www.upperroom.org/askjulian/default.asp?act=answer&itemid=39734 Upper Room Ministries: Biblical Significance of Ash Wednesday]
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| − | * [http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/easter.html Dates of Ash Wednesday from 1583 - 9999]
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| − | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday_%28poem%29 Wikipedia article on T.S. Eliot's poem, ''Ash Wednesday'']
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| − | [[Category:Wednesday]]
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| − | [[Category:Christian festivals]]
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| − | [[als:Aschermittwoch]]
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| − | [[be:Папялец]]
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| − | [[ca:Dimecres de cendra]]
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| − | [[cs:Popeleční středa]]
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| − | [[pdc:Aschermittwoch]]
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| − | [[de:Aschermittwoch]]
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| − | [[es:Miércoles de ceniza]]
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| − | [[eo:Cindra Merkredo]]
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| − | [[fr:Mercredi des Cendres]]
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| − | [[ga:Céadaoin an Luathraigh]]
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| − | [[ko:재의 수요일]]
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| − | [[hr:Pepelnica]]
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| − | [[id:Rabu Abu]]
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| − | [[it:Mercoledì delle Ceneri]]
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| − | [[he:יום רביעי של האפר]]
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| − | [[la:Dies Cinerum]]
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| − | [[lb:Äschermëttwoch]]
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| − | [[lt:Pelenų diena]]
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| − | [[li:Asselegoonsdag]]
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| − | [[nl:Aswoensdag]]
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| − | [[ja:灰の水曜日]]
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| − | [[no:Askeonsdag]]
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| − | [[nn:Oskeonsdag]]
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| − | [[pl:Popielec]]
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| − | [[pt:Quarta-feira de cinzas]]
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| − | [[ksh:Äschermeddvoch]]
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| − | [[ru:Пепельная среда]]
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| − | [[sl:Pepelnična sreda]]
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| − | [[sv:Askonsdagen]]
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| − | [[zh:大齋首日]]
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