Ash Wednesday, known as Popolcova streda in Slovak, marks the solemn beginning of the holy season of Lent. The lively celebrations of fasiangy had ended on the Tuesday night, revealing a new and reflective Wednesday.
Known in Latin as Dies Cinerum (Day of Ashes), the custom began as early as the 8th century. Ashes were distributed to the congregation after they have been sprinkled with holy water and purified with incense. The receiving of ashes recognizes that one is a sinner in need of Christ’s redemptive powers.
Like other Christians, people in Slovakia flocked to the churches to receive blessed ashes from the year's previous Palm Sunday (Kvetna Nedel’a). A priest would recite the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” ("Prach si a na prach sa obratis").
The Lenten period has always been a very sacred and holy time in Slovakia. In traditional Slovak and Christian culture, Lent (post – pronounced “pwost”) represented a time which commemorated Christ's 40 days of fasting and contemplation in the desert. In imitation of Christ's example, Slovaks denied themselves all animal products during this period, including both meats and dairy products such as milk, cheese, and eggs. Slovaks also abstained from eating any large meals, and they held no parties, weddings, or played no loud music. The music was somber and stressed contemplating one’s sinfulness.
In earlier times, after the Mass, people marched in a procession of penance. But that custom has since disappeared. Lent was a time of prayer and self-examination. Denying the body physical pleasures was supposed to liberate the flesh so that people could consider the higher meaning of life and their relationship with God. Slovak devotion became far more zealous than that of most European peoples.
The Slovak interpretation of Lent was most solemn, somber, and even gloomy. Until Easter arrived, a household remained in virtually a continual state of mourning for their own sins, and for the terrible price Jesus Christ had to pay for redeeming man's sins. As a sign of this grieving, women dressed in black for the entire Lenten season.
For Slovaks, Ash Wednesday marked a prolonged period of mourning for Christ.
Reference: Catholic Encyclopedia
