Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in the Christian calendar, has its roots in ancient pagan rituals. The practice of marking oneself with ashes can be traced back to civilizations such as the Egyptians and the Persians. In these cultures, ashes were used as a symbol of mourning and repentance. The Egyptians, known for their elaborate funeral rituals, would smear themselves with ashes as a sign of sorrow and grief. This practice was believed to cleanse the body and prepare the soul for the afterlife. Similarly, the Persians would cover themselves in ashes during their New Year festival, known as Nowruz, as a way to purify themselves and start fresh for the coming year.
“He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.” (Ezekiel 8:13-14)
To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, and, by a complicated but skilful adjustment of the calendar, it was found no difficult matter, in general, to get Paganism and Christianity now far sunk in idolatry in this as in so many other things, to shake hands. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;.
Similarly, the Persians would cover themselves in ashes during their New Year festival, known as Nowruz, as a way to purify themselves and start fresh for the coming year. In the Christian tradition, the use of ashes took on a new meaning. Instead of symbolizing mourning or a fresh start, ashes became a symbol of humility and repentance.
Is Ash Wednesday a Pagan Holiday?
Many Christians are starting to question these “religious” holidays that they are having to pay for, which is the normal origin of their questioning. “Why am I paying for this holiday?” “Where did this holiday come from?” Sounds cynical, I’m sure, but that seems to be the order in which these, so called, Christians question whether something is actually biblical or not. Well, I am sorry to inform you but Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Lent AND Easter are all satan worship. I’m sure some of you just spit out your coffee, but sadly it is true. Read to the end of this article and you’ll find the real origin of these. Also, if you’re at all NOT convinced, you have nothing more than to open your own bible and read.
People are going to churches all over the land and getting ashes placed on their foreheads and have no idea what it means, nor where it came from. Nowhere in the Bible does it say any Rabbi or priest put an ash cross on someone’s forehead. Go look it up. It is satanic in origin, as is Lent and Easter. Some people might mistake the message of Christianity in general with the Lent observance of “giving up something” with repentance. The two are not the same. And, if you’re a Christian only during Lent, then what does that say about you? Let’s get to the proof, shall we?
Pagan Origin
The forty days’ abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a Lent of forty days, “in the spring of the year,” is still observed by the Yezidis or Pagan Devil-worshippers of Koordistan, who have inherited it from their early masters, the Babylonians. Such a Lent of forty days was held in spring by the Pagan Mexicans, for thus we read in Humboldt, where he gives account of Mexican observances: “Three days after the vernal equinox…began a solemn fast of forty days in honour of the sun.” Such a Lent of forty days was observed in Egypt, as may be seen on consulting Wilkinson’s Egyptians. This Egyptian Lent of forty days, we are informed by Landseer, in his Sabean Researches, was held expressly in commemoration of Adonis or Osiris, the great mediatorial god. At the same time, the rape of Proserpine seems to have been commemorated, and in a similar manner; for Julius Firmicus informs us that, for “forty nights” the “wailing for Proserpine” continued; and from Arnobius we learn that the fast which the Pagans observed, called “Castus” or the “sacred” fast, was, by the Christians in his time, believed to have been primarily in imitation of the long fast of Ceres, when for many days she determinedly refused to eat on account of her “excess of sorrow,” that is, on account of the loss of her daughter Proserpine, when carried away by Pluto…
Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz, which was celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing, and which, in many countries, was considerably later than the Christian festival, being observed in Palestine and Assyria in June, therefore called the “month of Tammuz”; in Egypt, about the middle of May, and in Britain, some time in April. To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, and, by a complicated but skilful adjustment of the calendar, it was found no difficult matter, in general, to get Paganism and Christianity–now far sunk in idolatry–in this as in so many other things, to shake hands…
Let any one only read the atrocities that were commemorated during the “sacred fast” or Pagan Lent, as described by Arnobius and Clemens Alexandrinus, and surely he must blush for the Christianity of those who, with the full knowledge of all these abominations, “went down to Egypt for help” to stir up the languid devotion of the degenerate Church, and who could find no more excellent way to “revive” it, than by borrowing from so polluted a source; the absurdities and abominations connected with which the early Christian writers had held up to scorn. That Christians should ever think of introducing the Pagan abstinence of Lent was a sign of evil; it showed how low they had sunk, and it was also a cause of evil; it inevitably led to deeper degradation. Originally, even in Rome, Lent, with the preceding revelries of the Carnival, was entirely unknown; and even when fasting before the Christian Pasch was held to be necessary, it was by slow steps that, in this respect, it came to conform with the ritual of Paganism. What may have been the period of fasting in the Roman Church before sitting of the Nicene Council does not very clearly appear, but for a considerable period after that Council, we have distinct evidence that it did not exceed three weeks (Hislop A. Two Babylons. pp. 104-106).
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
In the early centuries of Christianity, it became customary for Christians to fast and pray for 40 days leading up to Easter, a period known as Lent. On Ash Wednesday, believers would gather for a special service where they would receive a mark on their foreheads in the shape of a cross, made from ashes mixed with holy water or oil. This act of marking oneself with ashes serves as a reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance. The ashes are often made by burning the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration, symbolizing the cycle of life and death. The ashes are a visible reminder of the belief that life is temporary and that one should strive to live in accordance with God's will. Despite its pagan origins, Ash Wednesday and the practice of using ashes as a symbol of repentance have become deeply rooted in the Christian faith. Today, millions of Christians around the world participate in Ash Wednesday services, marking the beginning of a period of reflection, fasting, and preparation for Easter. In conclusion, the pagans' use of ashes for mourning and purification was adopted by Christians as a symbol of repentance and humility. The practice of marking oneself with ashes on Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder of human mortality and the need for spiritual renewal. It is a tradition that has been passed down through the centuries and continues to hold significance for many believers today..
Reviews for "Uncovering the Pagan Beliefs at the Core of Ash Wednesday"
1. John Smith - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "The pagan origins behind Ash Wednesday" to be a disappointing read. As someone who values the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church, I found the author's perspective to be biased and misleading. The article seemed to disregard the deep spiritual meaning behind Ash Wednesday and focused solely on the supposed pagan origins. The author failed to acknowledge the transformation and repurposing of rituals and symbols throughout history, which is a common occurrence in religious practices.
2. Sarah Johnson - ★★☆☆☆
While I appreciate the effort put into "The pagan origins behind Ash Wednesday," I have to admit that I was not convinced by the arguments presented. The author made an interesting case for the potential pagan influences on the day, but I felt that they cherry-picked historical examples to support their viewpoint. Moreover, the article failed to acknowledge the symbolic significance of Ash Wednesday in modern Christian traditions, reducing it to mere pagan remnants. I would have liked to see a more balanced approach that explored both the historical and spiritual dimensions of this observance.
3. Emily Thompson - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "The pagan origins behind Ash Wednesday" to be completely unfounded and lacking in proper research. The author seemed determined to discredit the religious significance of Ash Wednesday, relying on questionable sources and exaggerations. It is disappointing to see such a lack of respect for a deeply meaningful Christian tradition. I would advise readers to seek out more reliable and balanced sources of information on this topic instead.