What is Ash Wednesday? Have you heard it talked about or seen it listed on a calendar but don’t really know what it is? This post discusses what Ash Wednesday is, how it is celebrated, and how you can observe this day with your own family. For a full discussion of Lent, see the post What Is Lent? You can find lots and lots of activities for your family to observe the Easter season in the post Holy Week Activities for All Ages. My book Resurrection Moments is a devotional for families to walk their kids through Lent and Easter. It is available here in the Chasing Those Moments Shop and on Amazon.
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Ash Wednesday
My first experience with Ash Wednesday came when I was in high school. A friend of mine showed up to an activity with what looked like a giant bruise on her forehead. I was concerned and asked what happened to her head. She explained that it was Ash Wednesday. Her family had gone to church that morning to worship and pray. The mark on her head was ash in the shape of a cross to symbolize her repentance of sin and focus on Jesus. I was impressed with her willingness to wear that symbol all day, showing everyone her devotion to Jesus.
I didn’t really encounter the observance of Ash Wednesday again until I was an adult. The church my family attends holds a special service each Ash Wednesday complete with, you-guessed-it, the placing of an ash cross on the forehead. This practice caused me to do a deep study of just what is Ash Wednesday and what it means for Christians.
What it is
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent which is the 40-day season leading up to Easter. (See a more in-depth explanation of Lent here.) It usually falls in February and always on a Wednesday – obviously!
The term “Ash” comes from just what it sounds like “ashes.” It refers to the story of the creation of humanity in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:7 says God formed “man of the dust of the ground” (ESV). Almost every tv show and movie with a funeral shows a priest/pastor saying, “From dust you have come and to dust you will return.” Sound familiar?
For Christians, Easter is a time of great celebration. Lent is a time of reflection and meditation. Ash Wednesday kicks off these special seasons with a time of heart-searching repentance. Christians prepare their hearts and minds for their 40-day focus on Christ’s sacrifice.
How to celebrate
Ash Wednesday reminds Christians of the fragility and temporary nature of life. The church services are somber and quiet with a strong focus on repentance for sin. It serves as a serious beginning to the season of Lent, a time during which believers focus on drawing close to God.
The service ends with the priest/pastor drawing the shape of a cross with ashes on the forehead or back of the hand of each person present. The ash cross serves as a symbol of how God created people (from dust). It also serves as a reminder of the dirtiness of sin from which God cleanses humanity through Jesus.
What families can do
While many people see Ash Wednesday as a day to spend in church, I find it a great teaching opportunity for family devotion time. The day very easily lends itself to an object lesson.
Children understand dirt. Newsprint, burned match heads, burned sticks, even chalk and baby powder all make excellent sources for ash and ash-like dirt. Seeing and feeling it with their hands helps kids understand the residue of sin. A cross is the perfect gateway to talking about Jesus. (I have posts on activities for Footwashing, cross-themed activities, and a Lord’s Supper craft that make great follow-up lessons to Ash Wednesday.)
Kids learn best when they can get involved in the story in some way. That is why we incorporate discussion questions, crafts, games, etc. into children’s lessons both in school and at church. Using the ash on the forehead (or hand) is a great visual and tactile object lesson for sin and the need for repentance. It helps to bring the Scripture read and the message spoken to full understanding in the minds of children.
I have written a family devotion book for the Lenten season called Resurrection Moments. It includes a study explaining Ash Wednesday in a way that kids can understand. You can check out that book here in the Chasing Those Moments Shop.
Resurrection Moments is also available in ebook and print form on Amazon.
Also, check out the post Holy Week Activities For All Ages for plenty of ways to engage children with your Easter studies. And the post What Is Advent along with my book Jesse Tree Moments are great for Christmas time!
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