A man receives a cross of black ashes on his forehead on Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten season that leads to Easter for Christians.
On Ash Wednesday, Catholics and other Christians have ashes placed on the forehead.
They Both Have Pagan Origins
Both the imposition of the ashes and Lent are deeply rooted in pre-Christian traditions and religions. The practice of putting ashes on one’s forehead has been known since ancient times. This is proven with Matthew 6:16, where Jesus tells his followers to not “disfigure” their faces with ash as they fast but to wash their faces with oil and water instead. Jesus says:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
This may be a reference to ashes being considered pagan. However, ashes used as a symbol for repentance are also mentioned in the Jewish Old Testament, including in 2 Samuel 13:19, Job 42:3–6, and more.
In the Nordic pagan religion, placing ashes above one’s brow was believed to ensure the protection of the Norse god, Odin. This practice spread to Europe during the Vikings conquests. This laying on of ashes was done on Wednesday, the day named for Odin… The Norse practice which has become known as Ash Wednesday was itself, drawn from the Vedic Indian religion. Ashes were believed to be the seed Agni, the Indian fire god. Ashes were also believed to be symbolic for the purifying blood of the Vedic god Shiva, which it is said had the power to cleanse sins.
The Viking age lasted from the late 8th century to the mid 11th century and had significant cultural effects on Europe, particularly the western portion. However, Vikings did also have significant holdings in modern Italy, the seat of Catholic Christendom.
In Modern Times, Ash Wednesday Is a Time of Repentance
Genesis 3:19 and Mark 1:15. Genesis 3:19 read
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
Mark 1;15 read
And saying. “The time is fulfilled, and “The kingdom of God is at hand: Repent and believe the gospel.”
Either of the bolded phrases is commonly uttered to Christians as they receive the imposition of the ashes. However, having a cross drawn on one’s forehead with ash is common mostly only in English-speaking countries. In other countries, ashes are merely sprinkled over one’s head.
Jesus is also quoted as speaking of the practice of using ashes as a symbol of repentance in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13, saying, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes…”
In Modern Times, Lent Is a Time of Reflecting
“Lent” is an Old English that means “length,” referencing the lengthening of daylight hours for the coming spring, according to Dictionary.com. The name is of stark contrast to the Latin name for Lent, “Quadragesima,” which means “fortieth.”
Lent is traditionally described as lasting 40 fasting days and commemorates the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the desert prior to beginning his public ministry. While in the desert, Jesus endured temptation by Satan. The story is told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
However, the number “40” occurs many times in the Bible, including the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai with God, the 40 days and nights of rain in the great flood survived by Noah, the 40 years of wandering by the Hebrew people in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land, and many more.
Lent is viewed as a time of introspection and prayer to bring oneself nearer to God.
What do People Give Up for Lent?
Pope Francis prays in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conceptionon at Spanish Steps December 8, 2013 in Rome, Italy.
During Lent, many Christians choose to “give up” a vice they struggle with as a symbol of sacrifice. Among Roman Catholics, some observers abstain from the consumption of meat.
According to Christianity Today, only 24% of Americans observe Lent, with Catholics being the most common observants.
Common Lent fasts include no soda, no fast food, no chocolate, and no sex, but according to a Twitter poll conducted by LifeWay Research, the #1 thing people give up for Lent nowadays is social media.
Lent Leads to Easter
Easter eggs painted in traditional Sorbian motives lie on display and for sale at the annual
Easter egg in Schleife, Germany.
Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter. It includes 40 fasting days, if the six Sundays, which are not days of fast, are excluded. The date of Easter is always the first Sunday after the full moon following a spring equinox. This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 16.
Easter is considered the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. It is the day believed to be when Jesus Christ rose from the dead after being crucified. It follows Palm Sunday, which is April 9, Maundy Thursday, April 13, and Good Friday, April 14.
Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent and commemorates the arrival of Christ in Jerusalem before he is crucified. The palms used on Palm Sunday are typically burned and used the following year for Ash Wednesday. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.
Like Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and Lent, Easter was also affected by early Christian pagan customs, such as the Easter egg and the Easter Bunny. In fact, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary, Easter is a German word derived from Eastre, the name of a goddess associated with spring.
