Why do some Christians put ashes on their heads on Ash Wednesday?

Question

i'm asking seriously. i have no idea why.

stullerl... why do you think i asked the question if i wasn't trying to learn about it, eh? why must i always get one person in each answer set who think i want to start trouble? i don't. i was honestly curious AND trying to learn. so back off.

Answer 1

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a 40 day period of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer before Easter.

Lent is a time of examination of concience and repenting - not a joyful time. The ashes remind us that we were made of dust and one day, to dust we shall return.

And Cupcake, Catholics ARE Christians.

Answer 2

Back in Christs day when a person was grieving they put on sackcloth and ashes. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent when Catholics acknowledge their sinful natures, grieve, and sacrifice as a sign of atonement. Of course now its just another ritual but when it first started ppl actually felt that way.

Answer 3

Why do you think it is called Ash Wednesday. It is the day after Fat Tuesday, and the starting of Lent. I am not catholic, but I respect their beliefs enough to learn something about them.

Answer 4

Catholics celebrate Ash Wednesday in this manner

Answer 5

We do not do this our Priest places the ashes on our foreheads in the Sign of the Cross as a sign for repentance of our sins. At least this is how we Catholics do this.

Answer 6

first of all, christians don't do that, im a christian and i don't do that... CATHOLICS do that. they r in the christian category but they are not called christians, why do u think they're called catholics?