MAIN Holidays & Observances Ash Wednesday

"Sackcloth and ashes" is a familiar phrase, arising from a medieval custom of humbling oneself in public before God or the Church community to beg forgiveness. But dust or ashes go even further back as sign of penitance and mourning to the time of Moses and the Old Testament.

Within Christian churches today, the custom continues in the application of blessed ashes to the foreheads of congregants in the sign of the cross, when an intonation "remember that you art dust and unto dust you shalt return" is given by the officiant.

In 2008, Ash Wednesday falls on February 6.

Learn more about this ancient Christian rite of Spring that marks the beginning of the Easter fasting period (and the end to wild and raucous Fat Tuesday celebrations) at top sites detailing the history, traditions and symbolism of Ash Wednesday ...

Ash Wednesday - Everything you ever wanted to know about the Catholic observance in a concise Q&A, including answers regarding its significance to the faithful, specific Biblical references, and when and how the signing originated as a Catholic Lenten observance .

Ash Wednesday - Wikipedia - A great overview from the online encyclopedia featuring arcane facts and trivia plus a complete list of dates for the moveable observance up to 2019.

BBC Religion - Religion & Ethics - Ash Wednesday - The illustrated guide with photos and facts on modern day Catholic and Anglican Ash Wednesday services and its symbolism.

Catholic Directory - LENT - One-stop browsing for church documents, feature articles, audio files and links to information on Ash Wednesday and its observance with more on Lent, Shrove Tuesday, fasting and related rituals.

Women for Faith & Family - Ash Wednesday - Suggestions for gospel readings, prayers, devotions, fasting rituals and family observances of the Lenten season, with a recipe for a traditional Lenten pretzel.