It seems like we\u2019re living in strange times lately… and 2018 is getting off to a pretty good start to being a strange year. We\u2019ve already had a couple of full moons, super moons, blue moons and lunar eclipses, the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, the stock market suffered its biggest one day (point) loss in history and the Eagles won the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
Now if all that\u2019s not enough, here it is Valentine\u2019s Day \u2014 but \u2014 it\u2019s not only Valentine\u2019s Day, it\u2019s also Ash Wednesday. This is the first time that Valentine\u2019s Day and Ash Wednesday have fallen on the same day since 1945. Ash Wednesday can fall as early as February 4 or as late as March 10 and begins the fasting season of 40 days of Lent. Liturgical fasting during Lent emphasizes eating plainer food and refraining from \u201cpleasurable foods,\u201d such as meat, dairy and eggs. Valentine\u2019s Day, although originally a Christian feast day is now a secular occasion pretty much set aside for lovers. Many, many people choose Valentine\u2019s Day to dine out with a romantic dinner. If Valentine\u2019s Day and Ash Wednesday coincide, it creates a problem. The Catholic Church is recommending people celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day a day early this year \u2014 on what\u2019s known as \u201cFat Tuesday.\u201d In our household, we solved the problem years ago \u2014 all the restaurants became so crowded on Valentine\u2019s Day, that we have, for many years, celebrated Valentine\u2019s Day either before or after the 14th of February.<\/p>\n
But 2018 isn\u2019t done with messing with us… Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent, leaning up to \u2014 Easter! In 2018, Easter falls on April 1. April 1 is famously known as April Fools Day when, supposedly, the world at large play pranks on each other. Just like Ash Wednesday, Christians will have to do a little multi-tasking \u2014 like maybe a few pranks during the Easter egg hunt….
\nSo far, 2018 seems to be doing a job of confusing holidays… I guess if it doesn\u2019t mess up Talk Like A Pirate Day, I\u2019ll be okay with it.
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n
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It seems like we\u2019re living in strange times lately… and 2018 is getting off to a pretty good start to being a strange year. We\u2019ve already had a couple of full moons, super moons, blue moons and lunar eclipses, the … Continue reading