Burning palms provide students with visual connection to Ash Wednesday, start of Lent

Dried palm fronds engulfed by a ball of flames Tuesday provided students a visual connection to the upcoming Lenten season at St. Theresa Catholic School in Palatine.

Fronds from last year's Palm Sunday services were used during the ceremony, which took place using a portable fire pit in the school parking lot.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, the 40 days before Easter and, according to church tradition, a time for forgiveness and repentance.

“It gives (students) an opportunity to see the connection to last year's palms, which were used on Palm Sunday, to this year's beginning of Lent and the ashes that are created, because a lot of kids don't know where the ashes come from,” said the Rev. Tim Fairman, St. Theresa's pastor.

The ashes left in the fire pit after Tuesday’s ceremony are mainly symbolic, since they won't be used during the parish's Ash Wednesday Masses.

“We tried that one year but they didn't stick, and they were gray instead of black, so we buy them,” Fairman said.

St. Theresa School Principal Mary Keeley said the burning of the palms leaves an impression on students.

“It gives them a feel for what's going on in their church and in the liturgy, and for what is going on in their souls over the next 40 days,” Keeley said.