It seems that we’ve only just finished with Christmas and Candlemas, and already Lent is nearly upon us.
Easter Sunday in 2026 is due to fall on 5th April. The earliest Easter can be based on the vagaries of the pascal moon is 22nd March, and the latest is 25th April. So this year is kind-of early.
My own personal yard-stick is whether my birthday falls inside or outside Lent. And yes, by birthday is coming up soon. Cards and lavish gifts gratefully accepted. It doesn’t make any difference to how I celebrate it. I long-ago identified a little-known saint that I could elevate to such a status as warrants a feast day.
This year Ash Wednesday is on 18th February. That’s next week! We’ll have barely got past Valentine’s Day at the weekend – and all the trauma that entails, whether you are in a relationship or not!
Projecting forward a few weeks, we’ll have Laetate Sunday (or Refreshment Sunday, 4th Sunday of Lent) on 15th March, which, for all my fellow Irish people, dovetails nicely to Saint Patrick’s Day on 17th March – so I’m now declaring that a 3-day festival! Cheers!
I’m currently not booked to sing at any Ash Wednesday services. For some reason my parish doesn’t have a sung service that day. There’s a very slim chance I might get booked to dep at the cathedral, but the chances are I’ll mark the day quietly at home.
Then comes the period of preparation and waiting. Not for Easter. Nah, I’m not a fan of all that joyful Easter music. No, I’ll be anticipating the start of Passiontide – the season associated with some of the most beautiful liturgical music ever written. Bach Passion anyone?