The preparation of the breakfast cake was originally seen both as a time of celebration and as a way to use eggs, sugar and butter before the arrival of Lent. A Pancake Supper and Parade will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 6 p.m. today. The youth of the church are sponsoring the event. Plates will be $4 adults and $2 for children under 11.<\/p>\n
Lent \u201d\u201d a 40-day period of introspection \u201d\u201d begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Many churches hold services involving the imposition of ashes.<\/p>\n
“Often these Ash Wednesday ashes are made by burning Palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative,” said Bishop David Epps, rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church. The ashes are applied in the form of a cross, and the minister or priest generally says, “From dust you were taken, and to dust you shall return,” or something similar.<\/p>\n
“This symbolism recalls the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ash over one’s head signifying repentance before God \u201d\u201d as related numerous times in the Bible,” Epps added.<\/p>\n
“The imposition of ashes on the forehead is an ancient symbol of penance and a sign of one’s mortality,” explained Marie Mulvenna, who handles publicity for St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. A worshipper traditionally leaves the cross mark “on his or her forehead until sundown, before washing it off,” Epps said.<\/p>\n