Ash Wednesday, also widely referred to as the ‘Day of Ashes’ is a commermorative day to mark the beginning of the 46 days lenten period, mostly by Catholics.
It is a period which Christians give up most of their exuberances in repentance and obeisance to God.
The day is usually marked by an early morning Mass where a Priest administers Ash on the forehead, as he reminds them of the fluidity of life and that all come from and will return to dust, which is the significance of the Ash.
The ashes are usually gotten from burning the palms from the previous year’s Palm’s Sunday and are usually blessed before administration.
Just like in the old testament where Priests and people of old would sit on ashes and wear sackclothes in mourning as a symbol of remorsefulness, the Beginninging of the lenten period reminds new age christians alike