THE Ash Wednesday represents the first day of Lent in the Gregorian calendar, and may also be referred to as Ash day and it is a date celebrated by some elements of the Christian community.
The date is a symbol of the duty of conversion and change of life, to remember the fleeting fragility of human life, subject to death. It coincides with the day following Carnival Tuesday and is the first of 40 days (Lent) between that Tuesday and the Friday (Santa) before Easter Sunday.
The origin of this name is purely religious. On this day, the traditional mass of ashes is celebrated. The ashes used in this ritual come from burning the blessed branches on Palm Sunday of the previous year. These ashes are mixed with holy water. According to tradition, the celebrant of this ceremony uses these moist ashes to sign a cross on the forehead of each believer, uttering the phrase “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” or the phrase “Repent and believe in the Gospel".
On Ash Wednesday (and Good Friday) the Catholic Church advises the faithful to fast and not to eat meat. This tradition has existed for many years and is intended to make the faithful take part in the sacrifice of Jesus. Just as Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross, he who believes can also make a sacrifice, abstaining from something he likes, in this case, the flesh.
Find out more about the meaning of Christian Easter and of the Lent.
Ash Wednesday is not a holiday
According to federal law, Ash Wednesday is not an official holiday. However, many commercial establishments do not work, even though they are authorized to work. Some government offices and bank agencies are only open from 12 noon.