Inappropriate (If Well-Meaning) Lenten Greeting

Someone said to me today, in all sincerity, “Happy Lent!”

Lent is melancholy. Lent is about sacrifice and reflection.

I thought it was pretty amusing. Like saying, “Hey, happy Pearl Harbor Day!” or something.

If you have a “happy” Lent, you’re missing the point.

This entry was posted in Personal. Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to Inappropriate (If Well-Meaning) Lenten Greeting

  1. Emily says:

    “Happy Lent” still isn’t as bad as my saying “er…you’ve got something on your forehead…”

  2. Laura says:

    My husband was once told “Happy Yom Kippur”

  3. Bill McCabe says:

    I was thinking of giving up not smoking for Lent, but then I realized all that Lent ever really meant to me was pancake dinners on Fridays. I can’t remember anything I ever gave up, even back when I actually believed.

  4. CW says:

    My whole life is Lent, only with beer.

  5. Laura says:

    Lent used to suck for me, until the last few years, I hated almost all kinds of seafood (except tuna sandwichs), so I’d have omlets, waffles, pancakes, or tuna sandwiches. Of course now that I like a fair amount of seafood, it’s much easier and more enjoyable. Bring on the shrimp!

  6. Patrick says:

    My God, people are dumb.

  7. Mark says:

    Sheesh. Will this person also be wishing you a happy Good Friday?

  8. red says:

    I know that this person, who is not religious at all, meant well. They just didn’t understand.

    But all the Catholics at work were laughing about it …

    “Yippee! Happy Lent!!!”

    It’s a bit ridiculous.

  9. Mike says:

    So you are writing about inappropriate lenten moments and someone writes about how Lent used to suck because of the food but now it is enjoyable. I could be wrong but isn’t Lent about making a sacrifice?

  10. red says:

    Mike –

    No, you’re not wrong. Lent is about making a sacrifice.

    This was a post written in a rather whimsical tone, so I imagine some of my posters picked up on that and responded in kind.

    But you are right. Lent is all about sacrifice.

  11. Patrick says:

    Lent is about prayer, fasting and almsgiving as a means to conversion. All of which I suck at.

    I wonder when my mom plans on creamed tuna on toast. I’ve gotta get some of that slop this year for sure!

Comments are closed.