16 hot takes on Ash Wednesday

It’s Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent – a Christian period of sacrifice, charity and contemplation in memory of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness – marked by the sign of the cross in ashes on the foreheads of the faithful. Catholics are getting their mass on and giving up stuff, while over on Twitter, everyone’s getting in on the act.

1.

It’s Ash Wednesday! I’m Muslim so I don’t really know what that means, but it’s nice that the Catholics have a whole day just for me to run around and cause a commotion.

Thank you, St Thomas Aquinas.

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) March 6, 2019

2.

This year I'm giving up the past tense for lend

— Sir Andy Murray (@mrsbiltawulf) March 5, 2019

3.

Good morning! Today is Ash Wednesday! Remember to smear yourself with burnt pancake remnants and contemplate your many, many failures!

— Arena Flowers (@ArenaFlowers) March 6, 2019

4.

Own the Catholic Church on ash Wednesday by just rubbing regular dirt from the road on your forehead.

— Rubber Bandits (@Rubberbandits) March 5, 2019

5.

Fuck would anyone give up anything for Lent? Like things aren't stressful enough as they are.

— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 5, 2019

6.

Other women in my office being all smug about what they are 'giving up' for Lent.

I wish they'd 'give up' talking shit.

— Pearly (@pearlylondon) March 6, 2019

7.

Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone has pledged to give up single-use plastic for lent, raising real questions about how much plastic he has been eating up till now.

— Liam Kirkaldy (@LiamKirkaldy_) March 5, 2019

8.

This year for Lent I am giving up

— Tiernan Douieb (@TiernanDouieb) March 5, 2019