This year, the hottest trend in Ash Wednesday observances was the Ash Wednesday selfie, popularized on social media with hashtags like #ashtag and #showyourash and #myashes. They were promoted by National Catholic Reporter, Busted Halo and even the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The WSJ covers the debate here.
Here are some of the highlights:
#ashtag LOVE it!! pic.twitter.com/0jvb9F7yPu
— Susan Russell (@revsusanrussell) March 6, 2014
I got mine. Have you gotten yours? Plenty of chances still left this evening… #ashtag pic.twitter.com/hJB1ibNzl9
— Matt Swaim (@mattswaim) March 5, 2014
@BustedHalo's #showusyourash contest! #ashtag pic.twitter.com/r3oyPmNPcd
— Pilgrims Headed Home (@Peregrinatione) March 5, 2014
#asHtag #showusyourasH @esanzone73 @hughesNkissesXo @HandsUpInThe_ER pic.twitter.com/X0S1wHs1Nl
— Kara Zack (@Karaa_Zack) March 5, 2014
Marky Mark reppin his thumbprint #ashtag pic.twitter.com/g7RdqSmgcI
— Catholic Mess (@CatholicMess) March 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/problemchicks/status/441295570502557696
Our Bishop is asking: have you got YOUR ashes yet?#ashtag #MyAshes #CatholicNH pic.twitter.com/f737ug6YYt
— CatholicNH (@CatholicNH) March 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/MercyMag/status/441420285942579200
Shoe-in for the "Paulist seminarian with a hockey stick in the backgound" category. #showusyourash pic.twitter.com/NFzBBhKrYD
— Fr. Stuart Wilson-Smith, CSP (@swilsonsmith) March 5, 2014
http://instagram.com/p/lLXgUetWjC/# (?)
https://twitter.com/Profetcsc/status/441279904533864448
#myashes #ashtag @NCRonline pic.twitter.com/f5fHP3iiYx
— JudiW (@JMCHW) March 5, 2014
And, for the record, I’m still not sure I’m totally on board:
I think I agree w @GibsonWrites on #MyAshes and #ShowUsYourAsh. Seems a little, I don't know, off or something. http://t.co/QbWcVW1nt6
— Kevin Eckstrom (@KevinEckstrom) March 5, 2014