Ash Wednesday 2025 Brings Ancient Traditions and Renewed Faith
Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent for millions of Christians worldwide, falls on Wednesday, February 17, 2025. This year, believers will again receive ashes on Ash Wednesday as a sign of repentance and faith. The tradition carries deep meaning, though customs vary across regions and denominations.
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday, 2025, come from burned palm fronds saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Priests apply them with the words, 'Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,' or 'Repent, and believe in the Gospel.' The practice dates back to medieval Italy, where it symbolised humility and penance.
Traditionally, men received ashes on their heads, while women received them on their foreheads. Today, many places sprinkle ashes lightly on the crown of the head. Benedictine Father Eusebius Martis favours this method, calling it more humble and aligned with Gospel teachings.
In some traditions, the cross traced on the forehead echoes baptism and signifies Catholic identity. Lent itself is a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, meant to deepen faith. Father Martis believes the best sacrifice is giving one's heart entirely to God.
Not all Christian communities follow the same calendar. The Archdiocese of Milan, for example, begins Lent the Sunday after Ash Wednesday, following the Ambrosian rite. Pope Leo XIV once encouraged Catholics to use the season for listening, fasting, and community—practices meant to bring believers closer to God.
Lent lasts for 40 days, leading up to Easter. The season calls for reflection, sacrifice, and renewal of faith. Whether through ashes on the head or a cross on the forehead, the tradition remains a powerful reminder of mortality and devotion.
