Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated to them that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying about the day of Ashura: "This is a day on which the people of the Days of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) used to fast. Whoever of you likes, let him fast on it, and whoever does not wish, let him not fast."
(And Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) would not fast on it unless it coincided with his (regular) fasting.)
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الصيام / 8419