What evil genius decided Valentine’s Day and Lent should be on the same day?

Let’s face it, today’s the day when plenty of us sit in fear wondering whether the underwear we cheekily picked up was too risque or the thought behind the petrol-station-bought flowers was lost in the fact that they’re not an Interflora bouquet, but we always go through the motions because it’s the day in which we celebrate the beheading of a Roman priest who defied the Emperor who banned his soldiers from falling in love.

Also: Cupid.

And today is the day that many people will give something up in a pious nod to the fasting period known as Lent.

[Surely, Rick Astley’s marketing team needs to have got in on this one?](https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=JKD8maUBxsBrJUdg)

Now, I know, many people on here aren’t religious. Neither am I. But there are plenty of irreligious people who observe Lent not because they’re keeping an open mind to the possibility of an omnipresent being, but because they find the six-week start and end date much easier to commit to a diet of some kind than they do sustaining their new year’s resolutions. It’s the same reason Dry January has bizarrely become so popular: it’s only a month.

But can you imagine the post-dinner conversations around the table tonight? Romantic candlelight, Lidl flowers, a hastily presented bar of Dairy Milk and then, when the mood feels right: “*so, how you doin’…*”

Followed by:

“Don’t even. I’ve given that up for Lent…”

by markinapub