During the next few weeks , many people in South America will celebrate Carnival . It is a time of music and dancing . The party ends before the Christian observance of Ash Wednesday , which this year falls on February 26 . Ash Wednesday has a very different feeling than Carnival . It is meant to be a day of prayer , sorrow and asking for forgiveness . In American English , guilt or sadness is often expressed by the symbol of ashes – the gray matter left over from a fire . For example , if you are feeling really bad about something you did , you might say you are wearing sackcloth and ashes . The phrase is repeated in several places in the Bible , the Christian holy book . The word “sackcloth ” refers to a kind of clothing that feels rough on the skin . It was sometimes made of goat hair . Wearing something made of sackcloth was a sign that a person was trying to punish himself . Yes , the image is pretty serious . You can use the expression in a somewhat serious way , too . Let's say you forgot that you invited your boyfriend or girlfriend to a special birthday date . Your beloved waited for you , for hours , crying , in the rain . Much later , you sit up in bed and remember your missed appointment . You immediately call your partner and say that you are so sorry . You promise to wear sackcloth and ashes for the rest of the month . Of course , you do not really have to put on a shirt made of animal hair . But you could show you are sorry in a different way . Maybe you cook your partner dinner every night for a week , or buy a meaningful gift . You can also use the phrase “sackcloth and ashes ” in a sarcastic way . This means you say it , but do not really mean it . Every time you walk by , she holds her cup close to her and gives you an angry look . She also tells all your other co-workers not to trust you with any of their supplies , such as pens or plastic spoons . At the next team meeting , she asks your boss for a lock so she can keep her cup safe from you . “Okay , okay !” you might say . Do I have to wear sackcloth and ashes ?” Your angry co-worker just might say yes . She is clearly enjoying raking you over the ashes . In other words , she repeatedly brings up a past mistake . The phrase calls to mind a fire that has almost gone out , but that can be started again with a little effort . Of course , being sarcastic is not always a good idea . It rarely makes other people want to forgive you . You would probably be better off apologizing honestly to your co-worker . But saying something nice when you are angry can be difficult . The sweet words might turn to ashes in your mouth . In fact , as an expression , anything can turn to ashes . A hopeful feeling , a relationship – maybe even your job if your co-worker keeps complaining about you – all can dry up and disappear . Fortunately , most things can also rise from the ashes . In other words , what was thought to be dead or destroyed can return to life , often in a new and better way . That is a good image to remember during periods of difficulty or loss . Usually , the situation does not last . In time , things get better , and you might soon find yourself playing music and dancing again .