Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian Churches and is a day of penitence. The following 40 days known as Lent are a period of fasting that imitates Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness before his public ministry.

Who celebrates?

Christians around the world.

How do people celebrate?

• Traditionally services are held on Ash Wednesday when worshippers are marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes as a sign of penitence and mortality.

What should I know?

• Ash Wednesday gets its name from early traditions in the Christian Church in Rome, when penitents and sinners would partake in a period of public penance
• The ashes, which are mixed with holy water or olive oil, are made by burning palm leaves on Shrove Tuesday. These leaves will have last been used during the church service for Palm Sunday the previous year.

How can I support others?

• Ask people if they or their families will be celebrating
• Recognise that people of different religions may not be celebrating
• Ask your team members about their faith and whether they’d be willing to share what it means to them
• Familiarise yourself with the diversity of religion in your area and how representative your organisation is of the community you serve.

Church of England: What is Ash Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQO4WHzhCcI

BBC: Christianity and Lent: https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml