What is up with this photo of Joe Biden?

[garybeck]

There's no joke or tongue in cheek here. I was just looking at Huffington Post's front page with this big photo and I'm wondering what is on Joe Biden's forehead? Is that a smudge on the photo? Or am I missing something?



ON EDIT:
Thanks for all the explanations. I didn't realize it's ash wednesday and I'm jewish. And thanks to those who didn't insult me for not knowing. Now that I know, I think it's pretty cool.

[CreekDog]

1. It's Ash Wednesday

I'm guessing he went to mass at some point today. :shrug:

(not just Roman Catholics, which Biden is, but many other denominations, notably Lutherans and Episcopalians).

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."


Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

[evlbstrd]

2. It's Ash Wednesday.

And he's Catholic.

[garybeck]

9. Ahhhh thanks! All Google could tell me was that

evidently during the campaign there were freeper rumors that he had botox injected into his forehead. go figure.

[babylonsister]

3. Ash Wednesday. nt

[liberal N proud]

4. Ash Wednesday

He went to church. It is a Catholic thing

[Cant trust em]

5. You don't need another person jumping on you.

I've edited my post because since first clicking, about a dozen other people have answered the question.

[Cant trust em]

10. Wrong place

[BuyingThyme]

6. It's Wednesday.

[rsdsharp]

7. It's Ash Wednesday

Biden is a devout Catholic, although Methodists do it, too, and probably other denominations.

[Captain Hilts]

19. Anglican/Episcopalians do also, I believe. nt

[Left Is Write]

31. Some Lutherans too.

[suston96]

8. Ash Wenesday. nt

[napi21]

11. Today is Ash Wednesday. Catholics go to church and get a smudge of ashes on their forehead.

It's a very long tradition and I suspect you'll see quite a few more people on TV with that smudge.

[BuyingThyme]

14. Especially on Fox.

[YOY]

21. What makes you think Fox is composed of Catholics?

Practicing or otherwise.

[BuyingThyme]

22. Something Ted Turner said some years back...

When he made fun of the ashheads at CNN.

[YOY]

23. Jeeze, I don't even consider myself Catholic anymore but I find "Ashheads" more than a little rude.

n.t

[BuyingThyme]

24. Just descriptive.

Does it look too much like assheads?

[YOY]

26. No. It just sounds like it was said with the same contempt as "ragheads" or "beanie boys".

n/t

[BuyingThyme]

27. What's a beanie boy?

[YOY]

30. Something I have heard an anti-semite call observant Jews.

I am gonna guess in reference to Yarmulkes...I didn't really care to delve deep into his psyche.

[garybeck]

15. that would be so, if I had a TV! n/t

[sabra]

12. another pretzel incident...

:sarcasm:

[Cant trust em]

13. Subquestion...What would happen if a publicly elected muslim wore something similar?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

[kestrel91316]

16. Joe's a good Catholic boy. It threw me, because I didn't understand the pic

was from TODAY, and I was wondering why he celebrated Ash Wednesday YESTERDAY, lol.

[hedgehog]

17. i went to college with a lot of foreign students; Indians, Chinese,

Palestinians and Koreans. I remember that they were very puzzled at seeing so many Americans walking around with smudges until I explained it was a religious practice. It was kind of a turn-around to be explaining our "quaint" customs for once!

[bdamomma]

18. Ash Wednesday. What a good catholic he is.

[JSK]

29. Yes, and he doesn't walk around preaching it.

"and they'll know we are Christians by our love" NOT by screaming at everyone else about how they are going to rot in hell.

[elleng]

36. Right. His MOM sure lectures HIM!!!

'Joey, have you been to church today?' LOL!

[lady raven]

20. Not just Catholics

We are Disciples of Christ and my congregation does it too. Not sure who all does, but I know another DOC congregation that doesn't.

[Jennicut]

25. My husband is a church organist at a Lutheran church here in CT and

everyone gets the ashes on the forehead there too.

[Cha]

28. Jeeze~ I would have asked too..

Shows how non religous we are.

[Beacool]

32. Yep, it's Ash Wednesday and off to church I go.

O8)

[Bucky]

33. Biden is growing a 3rd eye. When fully developed it will fire photon torpedoes.

Also, his cosmic jacket will contain an unlimited supply of filibuster-bustin' magic gavels.

[Clio the Leo]

34. Dont feel bad......

.... this Church of Christ girl (one day is like another day is like another day and tomorrow will be the same) had been worried her sweet Joe had bunked his head. :)

If I'm not mistaken, he's our first Catholic VP right? We're living in a whole new WONDERFUL world aren't we?

[Jennicut]

35. For one second there I thought the same thing and then I was like

um yeah...Ash Wednesday dunderhead! I have no excuse either because my hubby plays music for our Lutheran church - its a nice part time job. And I forgot Joe was our first Catholic VP. :)

[RepublicanElephant]

37. stephen colbert will probably have it on his show tonight.

he did last year.