THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ASH WEDNESDAY.

By Charles Damian Tingah.

‎Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting, marking the beginning of Lent. Its history dates back to the early Christian church, around the 7th century. The tradition involves applying ashes to the forehead, symbolizing repentance and mortality. The ashes are typically made from palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. In Nigeria, many Christians observe Ash Wednesday with church services, prayer, and fasting.

‎It basically symbolizes the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period of intense prayer, fasting and spiritual journey towards Easter, observed by Christians all over the world. It falls exactly 46 days before Easter Sunday .

‎ The imposition of ashes on the foreheads of faithfuls is central to the rituals of the Lenten season, and this is usually observed on "Ash Wednesday". These ashes symbolize human mortality and humility, serving as a solemn reminder of our frailty and the need for repentance and forgiveness . From time immemorial, ashes have been used to express grief or repentance in ancient times.

‎ It is a day of spiritual renewal and penance where many Christian denominations observe fasting and abstinence from meat . Practices such as fasting, abstinence, prayer, and confession are encouraged during Lent to help individuals grow spiritually and strengthen their relationship with God The core theme of Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season is about turning back to God and undergoing a process of renewal .

‎ The emphasis of a day such as this, hinges on themes of mortality, repentance, and spiritual dedication for Christians in preparation for the Easter celebration.

‎Christians are admonished to use the period for genuine and sober reflection, prayer and fasting as well as reaching out to the poor, less privileged members of the society in almsgiving.

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Jalingo Times.

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