Ash Wednesday

noun

1. the first day of Lent.

Ash Wednesday

noun

1. the first day of Lent, named from the practice of Christians of placing ashes on their heads as a sign of penitence

Ash Wednesday

1. The seventh Wednesday before Easter; the first day of Lent for most Christians (see also Christian); the day after “Fat Tuesday,” or Mardi Gras. It is frequently observed as a day of fasting and repentance for sin. In some churches, ashes are placed on the foreheads of worshipers on Ash Wednesday as a reminder of their mortality. The words of God to Adam in the Bible (see also Bible) are often used in the ceremony: “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ash Wednesday¹

First recorded in 1250–1300

When To Use

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of fasting and penitence that precedes Easter in some branches of Christianity.Ash Wednesday gets its name from the tradition of placing ashes on worshippers’ foreheads as a sign of penitence and a reminder of their mortality.