Celebrated on 02/18/2026
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are typically made by burning the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday. In some traditions, worshippers keep the ashes on their foreheads all day as a public witness of their faith.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance leading up to Easter. The practice of using ashes as a sign of repentance has ancient roots in the Hebrew Bible, but the specific Christian observance of Ash Wednesday dates back to at least the 8th century. The early Church used ashes to mark penitents who were undergoing public penance, and by the 11th century, the practice of imposing ashes on all believers became widespread. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) reaffirmed the importance of Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting and abstinence.
Over time, Ash Wednesday evolved from a day primarily for public penitents to a universal day of repentance for all Christians. Today, it is observed by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and many other Protestant denominations. The service typically includes a liturgy of the word, the imposition of ashes, and the Eucharist. The ashes are applied to the forehead in the shape of a cross while the minister says, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent and believe in the Gospel." In modern times, some churches offer drive-through ash distribution to accommodate busy schedules.
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