Public Life Ash Wednesday is an observance and not a federal public holiday in the United States. Background and Symbols The practice of marking foreheads with ashes is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans and Episcopalians in the United States. However some Methodist and Presbyterian...
front of the church, and the ashes are placed on each person’s forehead in the shape of a cross. The ashes are not to be washed off but are to remain on the forehead throughout the day of Ash Wednesday. Other religions that use ashes on Ash Wednesday include Lutherans and ...
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian church. It occurs six and a half weeks before Easter and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season.