The Symbolism of Ash Wednesday + Drive-Thru Ashings + a Playlist
Words by: Maggie Laubscher | Music by: Abby Yemm
And so, Lent commences. It’s the Christian season of reflection, 40 days of paying homage to Jesus Christ's 40 days in the desert by fasting from food and festivities.
Here, we’ll cover the holiday and also note some drive-thru ashings in KC.
Historically, people binge rich foods and decadence up until Lent - the time of Mardi Gras. And then comes Lent, where the excess ends and the cleansing begins. It’s a time of reflection and understanding that we have this one life to live. It’s also meant to signify a willingness to repent for sins and cleanse the soul.
Religious or not, it’s a beautiful ritual.
Today marks that beginning, which will come to a close on Easter. During Lent, most Christians will fast, avoid meat on Fridays, and reflect on their faith. They will also wear a cross made of ash on their foreheads to symbolize mortality and the sacrifices of Jesus.
The ashes themselves are saved the whole year in anticipation of Ash Wednesday. The Sunday before Easter -- named Palm Sunday -- palm fronds are blessed and given out to churchgoers. Then the fronds are burnt into ash, to be used on the next year’s Ash Wednesday.
Lent’s opening ritual of Ash Wednesday focuses on mortality and sin. The symbolism of the ashes is not a subtle one; the ashes represent the dust, or ash, of our bodies. As a religious leader marks a believer’s forehead with an ash cross, they often say, ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’ The ash, then, represents the dust that God used to create his people. It’s meant to remind followers of their own mortality and also of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Believers often avoid washing off the ash, though that practice varies today, according to Refinery29. The bigger meaning is more important. The whole of Lent is meant as a solemn time to mirror Jesus’s 40 days of solo pondering.
Drive-Thru Ashings
*check church websites in case of time changes and/or required registrations
12PM – 1:30PM in Mission, KS: Christ Church Anglican, 909 Johnson Dr, Mission, KS
12PM - 1PM in Brookside: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Terr, KCMO
6PM - 7PM in Volker area: Jacob’s Well, 1617 W 42nd St, KCMO
7:30PM - 8:30PM in Northland: Good Shepherd North Oak Church, 9555 N Oak Trafficway, KCMO
In the spirit of lent, we give you five ways to honor Ash Wednesday. With each idea, we’ve highlighted a Black-owned brand, as part of our continued Black History Month coverage. Please know, some of our highlights are not strictly Christian. But they are in line with spirituality, reflection, and cleansing. Be well, Nellies.
Sacrifice
Image credit: Under the Sunlight habit tracker
To repent for sins, many people give up a vice or other indulgence for Lent. And this is chosen on Ash Wednesday. Called a Lenten sacrifice, it’s something they promise to avoid until Easter. It’s meant to be something pleasurable and unhealthy: such as sweets or smoking. To help stay on goal, we adore this habit tracker by Under the Sunlight, a San-Francisco based Black-owned paper goods brand.
Fasting
Image credit: Gigi’s Vegan Cafe in KC
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting. This doesn’t equate to no eating; typically, believers simply eat lighter and refrain from meat. An excellent way to make this happen today and throughout lent is the meal prep service by Gigi’s Vegan Cafe. One of our go-to restaurants at The Nelle, the KC-based, Black-owned cafe is vegan and beyond delicious.
Focus
Image credit: Black Girl in Om
Take a breath and meditate today. It’s a beautiful way to get into the vibe of acknowledgment and prayer. It’s also a good way to cleanse your mind and reset your thoughts. Check out everything from Black Girl in Om and you’ll be en route to zen vibes. The Black-owned wellness brand’s mission is to create space for Black women to breathe easy.
Acknowledge
Image credit: Maryam Ajayi
Ash Wednesday is about sins and all of Lent involves penance. That makes today a wonderful time to acknowledge our own weaknesses and mistakes. It’s not about thinking negatively all day. It’s about acknowledging our flaws so we can improve and move forward. Maryam Ajayi is a Black wellness practitioner who does healing work and breathe work. Her knowledge runs deep.
Pray
Image credit: Lyvonne Proverbs
Praying is always a good idea, no matter your beliefs. A central theme of Ash Wednesday is praying. Check out Lyvonne Proverbs, a Black female pastor, spiritual life coach, and educator. Lyvonne founded an online storytelling agency focused on trauma, healing, and resiliency.
Disclaimer: We love having these conversations. We hope you love them as well. As a peaceful reminder, all views, opinions, statements, feelings, and vibes posted on Nelle News are solely those of the beautiful individuals involved. They might not represent any other person, agency, organization, employer, or company’s views, opinions, statements, feelings, or vibes. Nelle profiles are meant to entertain and show a real-life conversation; nothing more or less.