what is ash wednesday??

[skipweloveyou]

i just told my boss he had something on his face....to which he laughed and replied "ash wednesday"

ive heard of it and all...but what's the meaning behind it?

Comments

[malachi_c]

ash wednesday is a roman catholic holiday signifying the first day of lent, which is always 46 days before easter. since most people in the u.s. don't do the whole fasting thing, during the 46 days of lent the followers normally give up something they like until easter. like red wine or chicken burritos or hot showers or socks or whatever.

i only know this because i looked it up on wikipedia today and i knew it had something to do with easter but i wasn't sure.

[skipweloveyou]

haha i should have just done that. thanks for the info! i didnt realize lent used to be a fasting holiday.

[malachi_c]

oh, and the ashes come from burning palm leaves left over from the previous year's palm sunday and mixing them with olive oil before they are rubbed on the forehead in the shape of a cross by a priest or minister.