February 14th this year is quite busy. It's Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, AND Valentine's Day. Not every denomination observes the first two, so I'll just touch on all three. The following information is from Britannica.com.
ASH WEDNESDAY: Photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. It takes place 6 1/2 weeks before Easter. The ashes are burned palm leaves from the previous years' Palm Sunday Service and are used to mark the sign of the Cross on the congregants foreheads or sprinkled on their heads. LENT: Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It consists of 40 days of fasting, abstinence, and prayer. It is
a reminder/ or a commeration of the 40 days when Christ's was alone in the *wilderness prior to the beginning of His public ministry. It is suggested that during the Lent season the time that would normally be spent preparing and eating could be used to give money or food to the poor along with performing other charitable acts (Almsgiving). *Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
VALENTINE'S DAY: Photo by Chandan Chaurasia on Unsplash
This is considered more of a social custom where gifts, cards, and candy are given by one person to someone they love as a tangeable affirmation or demonstration of their love. The ones who reap the most from this day are Hallmark, Jewelers, confectioners (candy makers), restaurants, and florists. The actual origin of this day is vague. However, there were two Christian martyrs named St. Valentine. The emperor of Rome is said to have executed the two men (both named St Valentine) on February 14 in two different years. It is believed that they were murdered for breaking the law by marrying couples who were in love.And...there you have it in a nut shell!
Blessings!
~CWP~
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