Ash Wednesday

Hector Savage

Hi,
I was gonna start this thread in AH but thought would be better here.

How is it like back in Ireland on Ash Wednesday ?
When I was a kid (80s + 90s) we would all get the ash put on at school and you would see a good few adults walking about with the black mark on their foreheads.

How about in 2018 ?
Will you see much ?

Pherekydes

Coincides with Valentine's day. A choice between chocolate and wine on the one hand and a black fast and ashes on the other. #choices #ashtag

Hector Savage

forgot it was Valentines day!

NIMAN

Yip, still see plenty of people with them.

Kids will have no choice at school, and many adults still go in for that.

Pherekydes

Pity Hookie isn't still on at lunchtime. He'd spend all today ranting about people getting or not getting ashes.

Peregrinus

Pherekydes wrote: »

Coincides with Valentine's day. A choice between chocolate and wine on the one hand and a black fast and ashes on the other. #choices #ashtag

Strictly speaking, no conflict. It's a day of fast (so only one meal and two collations) and abstinence (so no red meat or fowl), but there is no ban on either choccies or wine, as long as they are part of your meal or your collation.

silverharp

more a fan of Shrove Tuesday

robindch

Hector Savage wrote: »

How is it like back in Ireland on Ash Wednesday ?

Sunny with occasional showers.

Hector Savage wrote: »

Will you see much ?

Haven't seen a blotched sinner today yet, but that's probably 'coz today is Pancake Tuesday not Ash Wednesday.

Which reminds me of Sky News' Kate Burley on Joe Biden from a few years back - 0:20 onwards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ybxah6xHgU

nozzferrahhtoo

Well some people find it wrecks their head. Literally.

Cabaal

NIMAN wrote: »

Yip, still see plenty of people with them.

Kids will have no choice at school, and many adults still go in for that.

Depends on age and school I suppose, in secondary I flat out refused to get the ashes. They didn't like it but I wasn't forced.
I was one of maybe two or max of three in the school that did this.

Used to get the odd comment in work canteen when I'd get my usual fry about how I shouldn't be eating bacon etc, I used to reply with I expected them not to eat during daylight hours during ramadan :P

branie2

Start of the six-week fast on things you like

NIMAN

Definitely not as many of them around on my travels today.

Its on its way out for sure.

Hotblack Desiato

Until a few years back you'd see a fair few smudgees around Dublin 2 during the day, a few years back it dwindled to less than a handful, I saw one last year, this year not a single one.

Wonder if that church that did drive-thru smudging last year did it again?

robindch

Was in the city center for a few hours last night. Total was three smudgikins, each one looking lonelier and more annoyed than the last.

beefburrito

robindch wrote: »

Was in the city center for a few hours last night. Total was three smudgikins, each one looking lonelier and more annoyed than the last.

I hear tramp stamps are on the way out too...
Are you saying that the smudge is looking annoyed or the wearer of the smudge looks annoying to you..

Mark Hamill

Saw only 2 or 3 on Wednesday. First one I nearly told that they had some dirt or mascara on their forehead before I realised what is was ::pac:.

Akrasia