Ash Wednesday occurs 40 days before Easter exclusive of Sundays. The earliest it can occur is February 4. The latest it can occur is March 10. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. The use of ashes to express mourning or penitence has a long history in the Biblical literature. 40 day periods of repentance or fasting are also found in the Bible.
The date of Ash Wednesday, therefore, depends on the date of Easter. The First Council of Nicea determined that Easter was to fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. For Ecclesial purposes, the date of the Vernal Equinox has been fixed at March 21.
Ash Wednesday mass is noted for the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of believers. This is in the shape of a cross. It is usually also done while the priest intones "remember o man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."
The exact composition of the ashes varies somewhat, but will always contain ashes made from the palm branches used the previous Palm Sunday, some Holy Water, and some Olive Oil as a fixative.
The date of Ash Wednesday, therefore, depends on the date of Easter. The First Council of Nicea determined that Easter was to fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. For Ecclesial purposes, the date of the Vernal Equinox has been fixed at March 21.
Ash Wednesday mass is noted for the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of believers. This is in the shape of a cross. It is usually also done while the priest intones "remember o man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return."
The exact composition of the ashes varies somewhat, but will always contain ashes made from the palm branches used the previous Palm Sunday, some Holy Water, and some Olive Oil as a fixative.