Today, we are on the cusp of a trifecta of lunar holidays. Through the vagaries of lunar calendars superimposed upon our regular Julean one, today we celebrate three different holidays. The Lunar New Year, Ramadan and Mardi Gras, the gateway to Lent and eventually Easter all begin today. While all three holidays occur annually, having them all start simultaneously is a rare trifecta.
The pictured 39¢ US postage was first issued in 2006, a year of the dog. This year, 2026, is the year of the horse and is celebrated throughout the world as the beginning of a new year. Today, begins a major celebration marked by family reunions, cleaning to sweep away bad luck, decorating with red, and setting off fireworks to deter evil spirits. While still valid postage, one of these stamps is no longer enough to mail a letter. These stamps were first collected by my father, who was a lifelong philatelist.
In the photograph of the Ka’ba (cube), we see some of the multitude of nearly three million Muslims that come to Mecca every year to pray around it. Circling it in a dense crowd, sweeping by in an almost impossible, undulating wave, they recite their invocations to Allah, their voices become as one as they speak the supreme supplication, “Here I am, O God, at Thy command. Here I am!” It is an overwhelming reminder of the unifying principles of the Hajj. While the Hajj is not Ramadan per se, Ramadan does serve as preparation for it.
Saint Louis as its name implies is a very Catholic town. Consequently, we boast the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in this country, second only to New Orleans. Fat Tuesday is followed by Ash Wednesday, Lent and eventually Easter. I was raised Catholic and I remember being asked to give something up for Lent. This is a bleak time of year. One that easily lends itself to self-sacrifice, but for today, let us celebrate. We can always repent tomorrow.
