The priests told who should not celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2024

The most sensual time of the year on the threshold! Have you figured out what to give your heart friend for Valentine's Day? Alas, in 2024, February 14 can bring a lot of trouble to Catholics in love. The priests warn in advance that another important Christian holiday is celebrated on this day. And it is absolutely incompatible with amorous affairs.



What to give for Valentine's Day In 2024, Valentine's Day falls Ash Wednesday. This holiday opens Great Lent in the rite of the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican churches. It is celebrated 46 calendar days before Easter, which Catholics celebrate on March 31 in 2024.

Ash Wednesday comes after the "fat" Tuesday - the holiday-carnival, a kind of analogue of the Orthodox Maslenitsa. It completes the "fat week" - the last 7 days when you can eat fast food.



Is it possible to combine Ash Wednesday and All Lovers Day? This question is asked by every Catholic who has love plans for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, these holidays are mutually exclusive. The first day of Lent requires humility, abstinence and ashes.

Is a date in the temple the only alternative for February 14? Let's figure it out!



Ash Wednesday: Rules and prohibitions The tradition of sprinkling your head with ash for many hundreds of years. The ancient Jews performed this procedure as a sign of sorrow, conversion or repentance. In the fourth century, the church laid ashes on the heads of those who publicly repented and confessed their sins. Today, this ritual serves as a reminder that we will all sooner or later turn to dust.

At the morning service of Ash Wednesday, believers sprinkle their heads with special consecrated ashes. Or the priest draws an ash cross on the parishioner's forehead. He says, “Remember that you are dust and you will return to dust” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Ashes are produced by burning branches from last year's Palm Sunday. Having committed heartfelt repentance, a Christian can begin fasting.



Believers pray in prayer, give alms and do good deeds. On this day, Catholics eat only once a day and refuse meat. Unlike Orthodox Christians, adherents of the Western rite can eat eggs and dairy products even during Lent. But most Catholics do not fast. Most often, their meat-free asceticism is limited only to Good Friday and Ash Wednesday.

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Valentine’s Day in 2024: How to celebrate? On February 14, the Catholic Church honors the memory of Priest Valentine Interamnsky. He lived at the turn of the second and third centuries, converted Roman pagans to Christianity and secretly married couples in love, ignoring the imperial will. For this he accepted a martyr's death. Since 496, by the decision of Pope Gelasius I, February 14 was declared Valentine's Day.

In order not to violate the canons, this year Catholic believers should observe several important rules. Because of the fast, you will have to give up a romantic dinner, especially if you like meat (reminder – it is forbidden). The church also condemns noisy parties, going to a club or concert. This year, priests recommend that lovers take part in the liturgy and lay ashes on their heads as a sign of repentance.



Polish Catholic priest Daniel Wahowiak proposed a different solution for couples in love. In his account on platform X, he posted a post that was supposed to dot all the "i". The Holy Father recommended that Valentine’s Day be celebrated on February 13, the day before Ash Wednesday. And the next day, with a clear conscience, enter Lent.

Many followers supported Father Daniel's vision. Others thought the priest was exaggerating. After all, we all know what can lead to the absence of a romantic dinner or a gift for Valentine’s Day. On the other hand, this little test can test the strength of the senses. It is not so bad to see God’s plan in every event.



February 14 in the Orthodox calendar: what to give on Valentine's Day Recall that since September 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine celebrates non-transitory holidays with a fixed date according to the New Julian calendar. In other words, 13 days earlier.

In 2024, on February 14, the memory of St. Cyril, the teacher of Slovene, is honored. In the people he is also called Cyril Springmarker. Together with his brother Methodius, the saint created the first Slavic alphabet.

There are no special restrictions on this day. Just do not cut your nails, so as not to shorten your life, and postpone going to the doctors for another day. Especially the dentists! It was also believed that on the night of the day Cyril come prophetic dreams.



On St. Cyril’s Day, our ancestors prepared a traditional drink Sbiten from fragrant healing herbs, honey and molasses. It will be great to treat this warm fragrant snack with your second half. Romantic and useful!

Do you observe church canons? How do you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day? Share your plans in the comments.