Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the Church's Springtime. It marks the beginning of the preparation for the Easter Triduum. As our foreheads are marked with ashes in the sign of a cross we hear these words

Remember that you are dust and into dust you will return

or

Repent and believe in the Gospel

Find out about Ash Wednesday from BBC. Here you can find out how to explain Ash Wednesday to kids.

* Busted Halo has a 2-minute YouTube about Ash Wednesday.

* Watch this newscast about Ash Wednesday

The ashes used for marking the forehead on Ash Wednesday comes from burning the palms from Palm Sunday last years. Burning palms can be a family tradition for Ash Wednesday. Give it a try at your house.

* Watch this YouTube to see how one parish burns their palms each year.