Washing and anointing

Washing and anointing is part of a religious ceremony that some people do to show respect to something special. Washing is when you use water - usually from a fountain or a special bowl that is blessed - and you pour it on someone's head and then rub their body with it. This is a way of showing that the person is very important and needs to be respected. Anointing is when you use oil - a special kind of oil that has been blessed - and you put it on someone's head in the form of a cross, or on their forehead. This is usually done as part of a prayer and it also shows respect to the person who is being anointed.