what is Ash Wednesday and how does one celebrate it?

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would I be mistaken in thinking that it goes with something called Shrove Tuesday and that the whole thing is somehow something to do with pancakes?

― rainy (rainy), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 00:59 (twenty-two years ago)

rainy i do't know what it is but if its got something to do with pancakes then can we eat it? (ps xoxoxoxoxoxoxo)

― di smith (lucylurex), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Nope, not at all. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent in the Catholic religious calendar, and Shrove Tuesday is the day before. The whole pancake thing is due to various prohibitions on food during Lent in some traditions (therefore, make nummy pancakes beforehand). A little more basic info here. And hiya Rainy!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

rainy are you still in wellington? if so, mail me! if not, are you up for some DCLMC bloody marys tonight. I miss you! umm end of thread hijack.

― di smith (lucylurex), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

hi rainy.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

As best as my cathcesim (sp?) can recall:

Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday is the last hurrah before the beginning of Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and is 40 days of sacrifice symbolizing the period of time between the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.

Ash Wednesday is celebrated by the burning of palms (which one usually receives on Palm Sunday sometime before) and the smearing of the ashes in the sign of a cross on one's forehead. This mark indentifies you as a Christian.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

stub out a cigarette on your forehead

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Ash Wednesday is no celebration, I'm afraid. It's the start of Lent. You eat pancakes frantically the day before (Shrove Tuesday) - as many as you like with sugar and lemon or whatever takes your fancy- and then for the next six weeks it's nothing but curried eggs and fish pie and a cup of cold regret.

― estela, Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

stub out a cigarette on your forehead

Painful.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

celebrate: 1. To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing. See Synonyms at observe.
2. To perform (a religious ceremony): celebrate Mass.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Hi everyone, and thanks for the information. The reason I was asking is because I think I need more tradition in my life. Shrove Tuesday sounds fine but Ash Wednesday sounds like a world of unnecessary pain.

Di, I just got back this morning, I will call you this evening.

― rainy (rainy), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Ash Wednesday is harmless. Lent is a world of unnecessary pain. Unless you resolve to give up something you could care less about. Like reality TV.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

:-D

― di smith (lucylurex), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Shove Tuesday = Mardi Gras day = classic
Ash Wednesday = day after Mardi Gras day = hangover, plus tolling church bells, ow.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Lent is a neat little ceremony.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and is 40 days of sacrifice symbolizing the period of time between the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ

40 days of sacrifice is for his 40 days in the desert you know where he got tempted by the devil and all that before his glorious (depending on who you ask of course) entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Traditionally the ashes are supposed to be made from the ashes of last years palms.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Lent, Lent, Lent. So what shall I give-up this year?

ILX?
Amazon purchases?
Barnes and Noble purchases?
Hot Chocolate?
Orgasms?
Working?
Beer?
Blueberry Mufffins?
Brownies?
Phone Sex?
Answering the phone at all?
Email?
Cards to my mother?

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

working. definitely give up working.

― di smith (lucylurex), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Am Aschermitwoch ist alles vorbei.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 06:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Has anyone been an altar boy during Holy Week?
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday.
Misery, misery, misery, Spring!

― weatheringdaleson (weatheringdaleson), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 06:48 (twenty-two years ago)

People give things up for Lent, including cigarettes => ash wednesday is the smokers' equivalent of pancake day, where you smoke enough fags to get through the next 40 days without them.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 10:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Rainy you should get into Maundy Thursday.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 11:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Has anyone been an altar boy during Holy Week?

Though raised Anglican, I served as an acolyte one time during every Holy Week service. I wanted to see what each service was like, and I did! :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey I said my catechism was sketchy. Try 21 years. I don't even consider myself a xtian anymore. :)

― That Girl (thatgirl), Thursday, 3 April 2003 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Awright, Ned! Those services were harrowing sometimes.

― weatheringdaleson (weatheringdaleson), Thursday, 3 April 2003 06:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I wasn't an altar boy, but I was in a church choir that did two performances, oops, I mean services a day through the whole of Easter Week. I know it was supposed to be all austere and moving but that didn't mean *we* didn't have to sing, sing, sing all those "were you there when they crucified my lord" slow and moving sombre hymns with the impossibly high bits. Argh, my poor voice. Good practice for going on tour, really. Except for the drugs and drinking and groupies... sigh.

― kate, Thursday, 3 April 2003 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

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