what are the ashes for ash wednesday made of
Ash Wednesday The Catholic Church and the Methodist Church say that the ashes should be those of palm branches blessed at the previous year's Palm Sunday service,[34][42] while a Church of England publication says they "may be made" from the burnt palm crosses of the previous year.[31][32] These sources do not speak of adding anything to the ashes other than, for the Catholic liturgy, a sprinkling with holy water when blessing them. An Anglican website speaks of mixing the ashes with a small amount of holy water or olive oil as a fixative.[43]