KOTA KINABALU: Love may be in the air but this year, Valentine's Day was a solemn affair for Catholics in Sabah who observed the start of their lent season on Feb 14.
Instead of roses and fine dining, some Catholics gathered their thoughts and efforts on prayer and attended Ash Wednesday mass.
Newly engaged couple Mitchelle George, 35, and Luigi Tamayo, 33, said unlike in previous years, they would be going to church and having a simple dinner instead of planning a romantic date night.
"We have to compromise since it's a day of fasting and abstinence," said Mitchelle, an office worker who has been in a relationship with Luigi for six years.
She said she felt that celebrating with simplicity was a perfect end to the Chinese New Year holidays and curbed their spending as well.
Veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan said he was happy to have a simple vegetarian meal with his wife Jessy Audrine Annabelle, 36, and nine-year-old daughter after their Ash Wednesday mass, as they have spent quite a lot during Christmas and year-end holidays.
The 51-year-old said lent was a season of abstinence and meant more to them as a family to bond closer to God rather than focus on other things this Valentine's Day.
For typist Lorraine Jacob, 37, it was a no-brainer which occasion was more important this year.
"My husband and I are thankful that we are still together and very much in love after over a decade together, and our teenage son is well and healthy, so we must always be thankful to God," she said.
"We do not lose anything if we abstain from our wants and desires for anything too festive this Valentine's Day and choose to offer extra time for prayers and just go for a simple dinner afterwards," she said.
Ash Wednesday is an important day for Catholics worldwide as they prepare for the 40-day lent season, which will end on Easter Sunday, which falls on March 31 this year.
