Carnival has ended. After days of celebration, parades, and music in the streets, the Catholic calendar marks a change in tone: Ash Wednesday in Colombia opens Lent, a 40-day time of reflection that contrasts with the unrestrained joy of the previous festivities.
In Colombia, that shift does not go unnoticed. All it takes is stepping outside today to see it: people, young and old, walk with a cross of ashes marked on their foreheads. It is a familiar image that, year after year, serves as a reminder that religious tradition still holds a visible place in the country’s daily life.
Throughout Latin America, the custom of receiving the imposition of ashes coincides with preparations to begin Lent, the period leading up to Holy Week.
Ash Wednesday, Colombia’s deeply rooted Catholic start to Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period that prepares believers for Holy Week. In Christian tradition, those 40 days recall the time Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public ministry.
The ashes placed on the foreheads of the faithful usually come from the burning of the blessed palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.
During Mass, the priest traces a cross while pronouncing a phrase that invites reflection: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” The gesture symbolizes humility, repentance, and the willingness to change.
In Colombia, the imposition of ashes is not an act reserved for the most devout. Many people who do not regularly attend church go on that day to receive them. Some do so out of faith; others, because of family tradition; still others, because they feel it marks a spiritual starting point in the year.
Ash Wednesday arrives immediately after the carnivals, which in Colombia have such emblematic expressions as the Carnaval de Barranquilla, which in recent days has filled the capital of the Colombian Caribbean with celebration. These festivities, recognized for their cultural value, bring together thousands of people in troupes, concerts, and parades.
The contrast is evident. From costumes and blaring music, the transition is made to the silence of Mass. From collective celebration, the shift moves toward personal reflection. Historically, carnival precedes Lent as a time of celebration before a period of moderation and abstinence.
The word “carnival” has roots associated with a farewell to meat, in reference to the traditional practices of fasting and abstinence that begin with Lent. Although today many experience the festivities without thinking about their religious origin, the calendar maintains that symbolic sequence.
A visible tradition in the streets: Lent in Colombia
One of the most striking features of Ash Wednesday in Colombia is that the sign of the cross remains visible for hours. Unlike other rites that remain in the private sphere, the ashes are displayed in public spaces: offices, universities, mass transit, and public squares.
That image speaks to a deeply rooted tradition. In large and small cities alike, it is common to see lines at parishes early in the morning. Some churches even extend their hours to accommodate those who stop by before or after work.
The cross on the forehead is neither mandatory nor permanent. Many choose to leave it on for the rest of the day as a personal reminder. Others wipe it off later. But during those hours, it becomes a shared sign, a mark that connects strangers through a common cultural practice.
With Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, a time that invites reflection, prayer, and, for many, the undertaking of small personal sacrifices. Traditionally, it involves practices such as fasting and abstaining from meat, especially on Fridays, which increases fish consumption during these weeks.
In Colombia, these customs are still observed in numerous households. Restaurants and cafeterias often offer meatless options on Fridays during Lent, and in many families, the idea of “giving up” something during those 40 days — a habit, a pleasure, or a routine — remains.
Beyond strict religious practice, Lent also has a cultural dimension. It prepares the way for Holy Week, one of the most important celebrations on the Colombian calendar, with processions and liturgical events that gather thousands of people in different regions of the country.
Between faith and cultural identity
Colombia is a diverse country, with different religious and cultural expressions. However, Ash Wednesday remains a date that sets the rhythm of the year for a significant portion of the population.
The fact that, even amid the fast pace of city life, it is possible to see so many people with a cross of ashes on their foreheads shows that the tradition has not faded. It coexists with modernity, with work, and with daily routine.
The end of carnival and the beginning of Lent represent more than a change in the liturgical calendar. They reflect a society that, between celebration and contemplation, keeps alive symbols that have crossed generations. The ashes, fragile and fleeting, fade as the hours pass, but the gesture remains as a sign of shared identity.
Once again, Ash Wednesday brings the carnivals to a close by opening a new Lenten season that will lead practitioners and nonbelievers alike to Holy Week.