Ash Wednesday

E27389

Ash Wednesday is the Christian holy day that marks the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, observed with fasting, prayer, and the imposition of ashes on the forehead.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian holy day
moveable feast
abstinenceFrom meat (in many traditions)
ashesDerivedFrom blessed palm branches from previous Palm Sunday
ashesOftenShapedAs cross
ashesPlacedOn forehead
associatedWith almsgiving
fasting
penitence
prayer
calendar Gregorian calendar
centralRitual imposition of ashes
commonFormulaSpoken Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return
Repent, and believe in the Gospel
dateDependsOn date of Easter
fastingObligationIn Roman Catholic Church
hasNameInLatin Dies Cinerum
Feria Quarta Cinerum
languageOfName English
liturgicalColor purple
violet
liturgicalSeason Lent
marksBeginningOf Lent
observanceIncludes Mass or church service
penitential prayers
scripture readings
observedBy Anglican Communion
Eastern Orthodox Church
Lutheran Church
Methodist Church
Presbyterian Church
Roman Catholic Church
many Western Christian denominations
occursAfter Carnival
Shrove Tuesday
occursBefore Easter Sunday
First Sunday in Lent
occursOn Wednesday
partOf liturgical year
preparesFor Paschal Triduum
religion Christianity
symbolizes mortality
repentance
sorrow for sin
theme conversion
preparation for Easter
self-examination
typicalMonth February
March

Referenced by (6)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Ordinary Time
Time after Epiphany
endsBefore
Christian liturgical year
General Roman Calendar
includesFeast
Quadragesima ("Ash Wednesday (in Western usage)")
beginsOn
Lent
startsOn

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