Ash Wednesday Meaning: What is the purpose of Ash Wednesday? What should you not do on Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting that marks the beginning of the Lenten season in many Western Christian denominations.

Ash Wednesday serves as a time for spiritual introspection. Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God.

Catholics are not supposed to eat meat on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, everyone of age 18 to 59 must fast, unless exempt due to usually medical reasons.

Ash Wednesday falls on the first day of Lent, which is the period of fasting, prayer, and repentance that lasts for 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday.

It is observed by Catholics in the Roman Rite, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, Methodists, and Nazarenes, as well as by some churches in the Reformed tradition.

Priests administer ashes during Mass and even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes symbolize repentance and mortality, reminding us that we are all dust and to dust, we shall return.