diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/holidays.xml.in b/gramps/plugins/lib/holidays.xml.in
index 8e8625aa5..5f90a833a 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/holidays.xml.in
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/holidays.xml.in
@@ -77,28 +77,7 @@
     <date name="St. Patrick's Day" value="*/3/17" type="secular" />
     <date name="April Fool's Day" value="*/4/1" type="secular" />
     <date name="Daylight Savings begins" value="*/1/sun/apr" type="informational" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="1999/2/17" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="1999/2/17" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2000/3/8" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2001/2/28" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2002/2/13" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2003/3/5" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2004/2/25" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2005/2/9" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2006/3/1" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2007/2/21" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2008/2/6" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2009/2/25" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2010/2/17" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2011/3/9" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2012/2/22" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2013/2/13" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2014/3/5" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2015/2/18" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2016/2/10" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2017/3/1" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2018/2/14" type="religious" />
-    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="2019/3/6" type="religious" />
+    <date name="Ash Wednesday" value="> easter(y)" type="religious" offset="-46" />
     <date name="Easter" type="religious" value="> easter(y)"  />
     <date name="Passover" type="religious" value="> passover(y)" />
     <date name="Earth Day" value="*/4/22" type="secular" />