Curiosities of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday

February 14 of this year has marked a peculiarity on the calendar: the coincidence between Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Christian tradition. This event, which has not occurred for 79 years.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14, has its roots in ancient Rome. Saint Valentine is said to have been a Roman priest who defied the orders of Emperor Claudius II, who had banned marriage for young soldiers, and performed marriages in secret.

For this reason, it became the patron saint of lovers and the date has since been associated with love and friendship.

In the city of Verona, Italy, lies Juliet’s House, a popular tourist destination associated with the love story of Romeo and Juliet, immortalized by William Shakespeare. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world leave messages of love on the walls of the patio of this house.

In Japan, the Valentine’s Day celebration is unique. Women usually give chocolates to men on this date, and a month later, on March 14, White Day is celebrated, when men return the gesture by giving sweets to women.

Ash Wednesday:

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of penance and reflection before Holy Week in the Christian tradition. During the mass, the faithful receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads as a sign of repentance and commitment to spiritual renewal.

The tradition of imposing ashes on the forehead as a sign of penance dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. The ashes used come from the palms blessed during Palm Sunday of the previous year.

In the city of New Orleans, United States, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Mardi Gras festivities, a carnival full of color, music and parades that attracts visitors from all over the world.