Ash Wednesday marks the official start of the Holy season of Lent for many Christians around the world. It is estimated that there are over 2 billion Christians in the world today, divided into a number of different denominations. The largest Christian denomination is Catholicism, with around 1.25 billion followers while just under 1 billion are part of some form of Protestant denomination.
Most Christian denominations observe Ash Wednesday and Catholics and some other Christian denominations will attend services at which they will have ashes placed on their foreheads, usually in the shape of a cross. It is believed that this practice was established by Pope Gregory I who was pope between 540 and 604 AD.
The ashes used in Ash Wednesday are usually made by burning the palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday services.
Christians are also urged to either fast on Ash Wednesday or refrain from eating meat and abstaining from certain luxuries.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of Lent, a six-week period which leads up to Easter. During Lent, many Christians may abstain from things such as alcohol, sweet foods or other things they consider luxuries.
Christians are also encouraged to perform alms giving, which means giving money to the poor, and praying regularly during Lent in preparation for Easter.
Due to the fact that Easter is at a different time each year, the date of Ash Wednesday moves too and in 2019 falls on March 6 but in some years can fall as early as the first Wednesday in February.
Learn more about customs around the world with the books from www.vujar.com.
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