Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is the day after Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day!) and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter (40 days not including Sundays).
Many Christians attend a service on Ash Wednesday and have a cross, made from the ashes of the previous Easter Day crosses, marked on their forehead by their religious leader. It was a sign of repentance in biblical times.
An Anglican website speaks of mixing the ashes with small amount of holy water or olive oil as a fixative.
Many Christians choose to keep the mark visible throughout the day.
The liturgy for Ash Wednesday reads
We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need to repentance and our need for the love and forgiveness shown to us in Jesus Christ. I invite you therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a Holy lent, by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting , by practicing works of love, and by reading and reflecting on God’s Holy Word.
Source
Wikipedia
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