Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25805)
United States
February 14, 2024 5:51am CST
This year there is an odd juxtaposition on the liturgical calendar. Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday are on the same day. This happens from time to time. It last occurred on February 14, 2018. You have to go back to 1945 to find the next most recent time they happened together.
The reason Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday only rarely align is because Valentine's Day is fixed as February 14 and Ash Wednesday is tied to Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday moves each year depending on calculations involving the moon and can travel from March 22 to April 25. Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter Sunday.
Why 46 days? 40 days to emulate the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, plus the 6 Sundays.
You can learn more about the math behind the days here: https://www.learnreligions.com/how-date-of-ash-wednesday-determined-542441
8 people like this
6 responses
@LindaOHio (181693)
• United States
14 Feb
Interesting. Have a good Valentine's Day.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
14 Feb
I know about Ash Wednesday and 'should' go, but I won't.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
14 Feb
Enjoy your day and happy Valentine’s.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83118)
• United States
14 Feb
I thought it was weird that both were today but its interesting to know how it happens.
1 person likes this
@mildredtabitha (16147)
• Nairobi, Kenya
14 Feb
Now I have an idea why ash Wednesday and valentine will fall on the same day.
Happy Valentine's to you.
1 person likes this