Christians from many denominations recognize the holy season for 40 days leading up to Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a sign of the cross with ashes on their forehead at the beginning of that season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive God's forgiveness.
We cross our forehead so that the Word of God may be in our thoughts and purify our minds. We cross our lips so that our speech may be holy and incline us to share the Gospel with others. And we cross our hearts to invite God to strengthen our love for Him and others.
tilak, Sanskrit tilaka (“mark”), in Hinduism, a mark, generally made on the forehead, indicating a person's sectarian affiliation. The marks are made by hand or with a metal stamp, using ash from a sacrificial fire, sandalwood paste, turmeric, cow dung, clay, charcoal, or red lead.
The ashes are made from burnt palm leaves from the prior year's Palm Sunday — the Sunday before Easter. The ashes are then blessed and the priest applies them during Wednesday Mass. The ashes are typically drawn in the shape of a cross on the forehead by a priest.
Is it OK to remove ashes from forehead on Ash Wednesday? There is no requirement to keep ashes on the forehead all day or for any period of time after they are given, but many Christians choose to keep them on their foreheads throughout the day on Ash Wednesday.
When the priest applies the cross of ashes, he says to the worshiper: "“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” He also may say “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” It is not required that a worshiper wear the ashes for the rest of the day, although many Christians choose to do so.
In Old Testament times people used ashes as a sign of repentance. They would sit in ashes, roll around in them, sprinkle them upon their heads, or even mingle them with their food and drink. They did this as an outward sign of their inward posture of repentance. Check out Daniel 9:3-6, for an example.
What does it mean when someone has a cross tattooed or scarred on their forehead? Sometimes that's a gang sign. It's a fairly common prison tattoo. Some Coptic and Ethiopian Christians have such tattoos as a mark of faith, and an invocation of divine protection.
The black cross symbol represents the Anarchist Black Cross, an organization that provides support for prisoners who have been imprisoned for struggling for freedom and liberty, according to the Anarchist Black Cross Federation.
Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season. It is commonly observed with ashes and fasting. Eastern Orthodox churches begin Lent on Clean Monday and therefore do not observe Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday.
The zebibah, Arabic for raisin, is a dark circle of callused skin, or in some cases a protruding bump, between the hairline and the eyebrows. It emerges on the spot where worshipers press their foreheads into the ground during daily prayers.
Can a married woman keep a black bindi? Bindis are not compulsory for Indian women. Even many married women do not wear bindi at all. Yet in many cultures, black bindi is considered un-auspicious for married women.
A prayer callus, zabiba or zebiba (Arabic: زبيبة zabība, "raisin") is a callus on the forehead present in some devout praying Muslims, mainly in Egypt. Owing to its societal significance it is also known as the "devout sign".
They make a cross with their thumb and index finger; the thumb is the vertical bar placed over the index finger, which is the horizontal bar. By kissing their thumb, they are symbolically kissing the Cross of Jesus. It implies a humble acceptance of one's own cross in imitation of Jesus Christ.
Unlike the Christian view of the death of Jesus, most Muslims believe he was raised to Heaven without being put on the cross and God created a resemblance to appear exactly like Jesus who was crucified instead of Jesus, and he ascended bodily to Heaven, there to remain until his Second Coming in the End days.
Historically, the origins of this sign may be unclear, although it was likely propagated through the supposition of its likeness to the Cross of Christ. In some sources it is claimed that in 16th-century England, fingers would be crossed in place of the Sign of the Cross to ward off evils and ill health.
Catholic (both Eastern and Western), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Christians generally use the crucifix in public religious services.
The empty cross symbolizes Christ's defeat of death through resurrection. For this reason, an empty cross is known technically as a resurrectix.
Wearing the Crucifix among the Christian community also varies, among each denomination. For example, whilst Catholics display the Crucifix in their churches and often wear Crucifix's or carry them for prayer and protection, people of the Protestant faith wear a plain cross.
Three dots (Photo Whiserkino) The three dots tattoo is a common prison tattoo that represents “mi vida loca,” or “my crazy life.” It's not associated with any particular gang, but with the gang lifestyle itself.
A bindi (Hindi: बिंदी, from Sanskrit बिन्दु bindú meaning "point, drop, dot or small particle") or pottu (Tamil: பொட்டு) is a coloured dot or, in modern times, a sticker worn on the center of the forehead, originally by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from the Indian subcontinent.
It can be used as a symbol of faith, hope, love, or redemption, or simply as an expression of personal style. Whatever your reason for getting a cross tattoo, it is sure to be a meaningful and lasting addition to your body art.
However, it's important to remember that the Bible does not explicitly prohibit or endorse cremation or the keeping of ashes. Ultimately, the decision of what to do with the ashes of a loved one is a personal one, and should be made based on what feels right for the family.
What does the Bible say about cremation? According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars. However, some passages describe standard death practices during these times.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible comes from Isaiah 61:3 “…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair”. In fact, I like this verse so much that I named my first book – Beauty from Ashes – after it!