Ash Wednesday

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Scope note
Refers to the first day of Lent, occuring 6 1/2 weeks before Easter. The name comes from the practice of marking the foreheads of clergy and worshippers with ash. Typically the ash comes from burning the palms used on the previous Palm Sunday. It is the only other day besides Good Friday for which fasting is prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church. Ash Wednesday is also observed in the Anglican, Lutheran, and some other Protestant churches. Eastern Orthodox churches do not observe Ash Wednesday because Lent begins on a Monday in their calendar.
Ash Wednesday
Accepted term: 02-Dec-2024