[caption id="attachment_934" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ash Wednesday signifies faith, humility, and mourning, and marks the beginning of the Lent season."]
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While we don't promote any particular religion and as we take a neutral, respectful attitude towards the topic, we can't help but recognize today as being one of the biggest Christian observances.
Ash Wednesday is the day that kicks off the season of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, repentance, and self-denial. Christians of different denominations - most commonly that of the Catholic denomination - visit their church and are marked with ashes in the sign of a cross. The ashes symbolize faith, humility, and mourning and regret for the sins they have committed. In response, Christians spend the next 40 days (Lent) as a public penance, as that is what was done by those who committed serious sins in the early days of Christianity.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday (March 9) and ending on Easter Sunday (April 24), Lent is a season of celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent also symbolizes the time in the Bible where Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights before the beginning of his ministry. It was during this time that he also endured temptation from Satan.
Although different denominations celebrate and count the days of Lent differently, the most common way of counting the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is counting Monday through Saturday, leaving out Sunday as a day for feasting and celebration.
The idea of "self-denial" during this season means different things for different people. For example, some fast (meaning no food or drink with the exception of water) from sunrise to sunset for all 40 days, while some may give up a certain food item or practice for the season. Some of us here at Ernst & Haas are giving up sweets, soda, fast food, coffee, and more. There are a few of us that will be giving up lifestyle practices such as watching television, listening to music, and spending money.
And while some of us aren't religious at all, the idea of Lent is a healthy way to put our lives in perspective, regardless of our beliefs. We hope that you would join us in an effort to sacrifice something for the cause of self-reflection and self-improvement.
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While we don't promote any particular religion and as we take a neutral, respectful attitude towards the topic, we can't help but recognize today as being one of the biggest Christian observances.
Ash Wednesday is the day that kicks off the season of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, repentance, and self-denial. Christians of different denominations - most commonly that of the Catholic denomination - visit their church and are marked with ashes in the sign of a cross. The ashes symbolize faith, humility, and mourning and regret for the sins they have committed. In response, Christians spend the next 40 days (Lent) as a public penance, as that is what was done by those who committed serious sins in the early days of Christianity.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday (March 9) and ending on Easter Sunday (April 24), Lent is a season of celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent also symbolizes the time in the Bible where Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights before the beginning of his ministry. It was during this time that he also endured temptation from Satan.
Although different denominations celebrate and count the days of Lent differently, the most common way of counting the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is counting Monday through Saturday, leaving out Sunday as a day for feasting and celebration.
The idea of "self-denial" during this season means different things for different people. For example, some fast (meaning no food or drink with the exception of water) from sunrise to sunset for all 40 days, while some may give up a certain food item or practice for the season. Some of us here at Ernst & Haas are giving up sweets, soda, fast food, coffee, and more. There are a few of us that will be giving up lifestyle practices such as watching television, listening to music, and spending money.
And while some of us aren't religious at all, the idea of Lent is a healthy way to put our lives in perspective, regardless of our beliefs. We hope that you would join us in an effort to sacrifice something for the cause of self-reflection and self-improvement.