What is Lent? What is Ash Wednesday?
The season of Lent is a 46-day long season in the (Christian) liturgical, or, church, year. It directly precedes Easter and is a time to honor Jesus’s death and resurrection. People primarily celebrate Lent by fasting and giving up luxuries because that is what Jesus had to do to overcome darkness. According to the Bible, Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and gave up food as a way to conquer and overcome Satan’s temptation. Even though Jesus is Godly, he is mortal and can suffer, which is shown by his weakness in the desert. His fast is the general reason for the 40-day (excluding six Sundays) season of Lent.
Two big markers of the Lenten season are fasting, as mentioned above, and ashes. Ashes are significant during Lent because of their usage on a day called “Ash Wednesday.” Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of Lent and is a traditional Catholic and Episcopalian holiday. Ash Wednesday itself is not mentioned directly in the Bible, however, ashes and their significance are brought up quite a bit. For example, line 3:19 in the book of Genesis states, “For you are dust, And to dust you shall return”. This is a reminder that all life comes from ash and will return to ash after death. In the book of Daniel, there is also a line correlating the presence of ashes to the acts of fasting and repenting. Therefore, using ashes on the first day of Lent is a tradition because ashes are biblically significant and correlate with mortality and repentance. Penance, impermanence, and overcoming adversities are major themes in the season of Lent, and ashes biblically represent these themes.
While the meaning and symbolism of ashes haven’t changed, their uses during Lent have. The modern-day Ash Wednesday tradition of sprinkling palm ashes on foreheads in the form of a cross began during the 11th century, but Easter traditions using ashes began a few centuries before that. According to Britannica, congregants in the eighth to tenth centuries “were sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sackcloth, and obliged to remain apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community on Maundy Thursday…” On top of the sackcloths and ash sprinkling, heavy fasting on Ash Wednesday was required. Nowadays, congregants receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads, do not wear sackcloths, and are allowed to interact with others. However, fasting on Ash Wednesday is still a widely followed rule of Lent.
While there aren’t many people at STU who are fasting this season, there are many people who have thought about what they might give up. When Freshman Val was asked what item or habit they would surrender and why, they answered, “Caffeine,” followed by, “ I recognize that I’m addicted to it and I don’t like the fact that I have such a need for it.” When asked the same question, Junior Emma said, “ If I had to give up a habit it would probably be starting my morning by checking my phone. . . Because I think that there’s better ways to start the day, and by picking up my phone I immediately cancel out the chance of being able to start my day present and in the moment.” Amory, a Sophomore, took this question differently and listed an item they would give up. They stated that their backpack would be the first thing to go, “I just put everything in there so it gets super heavy but I don’t even use it at all on red days.” JP of eighth grade also took this question like Amory and came from a more literal standpoint. He said that he would give up, “Eating and drinking.” His answer to “why” was that it, “Distracts me from my Fortnite grind.”
All in all, it’s important to remember that Lent is a season of fasting, repentance, and remembrance of Christ’s death. Its starting traditions on Ash Wednesday have evolved throughout the years and have changed with the times. Ash Wednesday traditions are rooted in Bible sayings and stories, just like those of the Lenten season entirely. Many people nowadays celebrate Lent by giving things up and avoiding certain foods. It’s important for Christians to honor the season of Lent, as many see it as one of the year's most important and mindful seasons.
Sarah Crittenden