Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday(also known asPancake TuesdayorPancake Day) is the final day ofShrovetide, marking the end ofpre-Lent.Lentbegins the following day withAsh Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday is observed in manyChristian countriesthrough participating inconfession, the ritual burning of the previous year'sHoly Weekpalms, finalizing one'sLenten sacrifice, as well as eatingpancakesand other sweets.
Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, includingAnglicans,Lutherans,Methodists,Western-rite Orthodox Christians, andRoman Catholics,who "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with."Thismoveable feastis determined bythe dateofEaster. The expression "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the wordshrive, meaning absolution following confession.Christians traditionally visit their church on Shrove Tuesday to confess their sins and clean their soul, thus beingshriven(absolved) before the start of Lent.
As this is the last day of the Christian liturgical season historically known asCarnivalorShrovetide, before the penitential season ofLent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one might give up as theirLenten sacrificefor the upcoming forty days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations. The termMardi Grasis French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins onAsh Wednesday. Many Christian congregations thus observe the day through eating pancakes or, more specifically, the holding ofpancake breakfasts, as well as the ringing ofchurch bellsto remind people to repent of their sins before the start of Lent.On Shrove Tuesday, churches also burn the palms distributed during the previous year's Palm Sunday liturgies to make the ashes used during the services held on the very next day,Ash Wednesday.
In some Christian countries, especially those where the day is calledMardi Grasor a translation thereof, it is acarnivalday, the last day of "fat eating" or "gorging" before the fasting period of Lent.Additionally, since 1958, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates theFeast of the Holy Face of Jesuson Shrove Tuesday.
The tradition of marking the start of Lent has been documented for centuries.Ælfric of Eynsham's "Ecclesiastical Institutes" from around 1000 AD states: "In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]".By the time of the lateMiddle Ages, the celebration of Shrovetide lasted until the start of Lent.
During the liturgical season of Lent, believers have historically abstained from rich foods such as meat, eggs, lacticinia (dairy products), and alcohol—a practice that continues inEastern Christianity(in denominations such as theCoptic Orthodox Church) and amongWestern Christiancongregations practicing theDaniel Fast.Shrovetide provided Christians with the opportunity to use up these foods prior to the start of the 40-day fasting season of Lent.Prior to the 6th century, Lent was normatively observed through the practice of the Black Fast, which enjoins fasting from food and liquids, with the allowance of onevegetarianmeal after sunset.The tradition ofpancake breakfastsduring Shrovetide, as well as that of pancake races, owes itself to this practice of "using up the surplus eggs, milk and butter" prior to Lent.As such, it was traditional in many societies to eat pancakes or other foods made with the butter, eggs and fat or lard that would need to be used up before the beginning of Lent. Similar foods arefasnachtsandpączki.The specific custom of British Christians eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday dates to the 16th century.
Along with its emphasis on feasting, another theme of Shrove Tuesday involves Christiansrepentingof their sins in preparation to begin the season of Lent in the Christianliturgical calendar.In many Christian parish churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, a popular Shrove Tuesday tradition is the ringing of thechurch bells(on this day, the toll is known as the Shriving Bell) "to call the faithful to confession before the solemn season of Lent" and for people to "begin frying their pancakes".
The wordshroveis a form of the English wordshrive, which means to giveabsolutionfor someone'ssinsby way ofConfessionand doingpenance. Thus Shrove Tuesday was named after the custom of Christians to be "shriven" before the start of Lent.
In theUnited Kingdom,Irelandand parts of theCommonwealth, Shrove Tuesday is also known asPancake DayorPancake Tuesday, as it became a traditional custom to eatpancakesas a meal.InIrishthe day is known asMáirt Inide, from theLatininitium (Jejūniī), "beginning ofLent."Elsewhere, the day has also been called "Mardi Gras", meaning "Fat Tuesday", after the type of celebratory meal that day.
InGermany, the day is known asFastnachtsdienstag,Faschingsdienstag,KarnevalsdienstagorVeilchendienstag(the last of which translates to violet [the flower] Tuesday). It is celebrated with fancy dress and a partial school holiday. Similarly, inGerman Americanareas, such asPennsylvania Dutch Country, it is known asFastnacht Day.
In theNetherlands, it is known as "vastenavond", or inLimburgish dialect"vastelaovend", though the word "vastelaovend" usually refers to the entire period ofcarnival in the Netherlands.In some parts ofSwitzerland(e.g.Lucerne), the day is calledGüdeldienstagorGüdisdienstag(preceded by Güdismontag). According to theDudendictionary, the term derives from "Güdel", which means a fat belly stuffed full of food.
InPortuguese-,Spanish- andItalian-speaking countries, among others, it is known asCarnival(to use theEnglishspelling). This derives from Medieval Latincarnelevamen("the putting away of flesh")and thus to another aspect of the Lenten fast, to abstain from eating meat. It is often celebrated with street processions or fancy dress.
The most famous of these events has become theBrazilian CarnivalinRio de Janeiro. Venetians have long celebrated carnival with amasquerade.The use of the term "carnival" in other contexts derives from this celebration. In Spain, the Carnival Tuesday is named "día de la tortilla" ("omelette day"): an omelette made with some sausage or pork fat is eaten. On the Portuguese island ofMadeira,malasadasare eaten onTerça-feira Gorda(Fat Tuesday in English), which is also the last day of theCarnival of Madeira. Malasadas were cooked in order to use up all the lard and sugar in the house, in preparation for Lenten restrictions.This tradition was taken toHawaii, where Shrove Tuesday is known asMalasada Day, which dates back to the days of the sugar plantations of the 1800s. The resident CatholicPortugueseworkers (who came mostly from Madeira and theAzores) used up butter and sugar prior to Lent by making large batches ofmalasadas.
In the Lutheran countries ofDenmarkandNorway, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is calledFetetirsdag("Fat Tuesday"); the prior weekend is known asFastelavnand is marked by eatingfastelavnsboller. Fastelavn is the name for Carnival in Denmark, held either on the Sunday orMonday beforeAsh Wednesday.This holiday occurs seven weeks before Easter Sunday, with children dressing up in costumes and gathering treats for the Fastelavn feast. The holiday is generally considered to be a time for children's fun and family games and on Shrove Sunday, "the churches hold a special family service where children are invited to wear fancy dress."InEstonia, the day is similarly called Vastlapäev and is generally celebrated by eatingpea soupand whipped-cream or whipped-cream and jam-filled sweet-buns calledvastlakukkel, similar to the Swedishfastlagsbulleorsemla. Children also typically go sledding on this day.
InIceland, the day is known asSprengidagur(Bursting Day) and is marked by eating salted meat and peas.InLithuania, the day is calledUžgavėnės. People eatpancakes(blynai) and Lithuanian-styledoughnuts.InSweden, the day is calledFettisdagen(Fat Tuesday), and is generally celebrated by eating a type ofalmond paste-filledsweet rollcalledfastlagsbulleorsemla.InFinland, the day is calledlaskiainenand is generally celebrated by eating green pea soup and a pastry calledlaskiaispulla(sweet bread filled with whipped cream and jam or almond paste, same as the Swedishsemla).Estoniantraditions also associate with the semla and the day is known asVastlapäev. It is a celebration of Balto-Finnic origins, which includes both pagan and ecclesiastic traditions, and is often described as a "mid-winter sliding festival" and the day often includes downhill sledging.
InPoland, a related celebration falls on the Thursday beforeAsh Wednesdayand is calledtłusty czwartek(Fat Thursday). In some areas of theUnited Stateswith large Polish-American communities, such asChicago,Milwaukee,Detroit, andBuffalo,Tłusty Czwartekis celebrated withpączkiorfaworkieating contests, music and other Polish food. It may be held on Shrove Tuesday or in the days immediately preceding it.
InSlovenia,Kurentovanjeis also the biggest and best known carnival.There are several more local carnivals usually referred to asLaufarija. InHungary, and the Hungarian-speaking territories, it is calledHúshagyókedd[hu](lit.'the Tuesday leaving the meat') and is celebrated by fancy dress and visiting neighbours.
Shrove Tuesday serves a dual purpose of allowing Christians to repent of any sins they might have committed before the start ofLenton the next dayAsh Wednesdayand giving them the opportunity to engage in a last round of merriment before the start of the somber Lenten season, which is characterized by making aLenten sacrifice,fasting,prayingand engaging in variousspiritual disciplines, such as marking aLenten calendar, fasting, abstaining from luxuries, and reading adaily devotional.
The Lentenfasttraditionally emphasizes eating simpler,vegetarianfood, and refraining from food that would give undue pleasure; as such, Christians historically abstained from meat, eggs and lacticinia (dairy products) during the 40-day fasting season of Lent—a practice that continues inEastern Christianity(in denominations such as theCoptic Orthodox Church) and amongWestern Christiancongregations practicing theDaniel Fast.Pancakes are associated with Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Lent, because they are a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent.
InNewfoundlandandCape Breton Island, small tokens are frequently cooked in the pancakes. Children take delight in discovering the objects, which are intended to be divinatory. For example, the person who receives a coin will be wealthy; a nail indicates that they will become or marry a carpenter.
On the final day of Shrovetide, Shrove Tuesday, many traditional Christians, such asAnglicans,Lutherans,MethodistsandRoman Catholics,"make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with."As such, many churches offerConfessionon Shrove Tuesday.
On Shrove Tuesday, many Christians finalize their decision with respect to whatLenten sacrificesthey will make for Lent.While making a Lenten sacrifice, it is customary toprayfor strength to keep it; many often wish others for doing so as well, e.g. "May God bless your Lenten sacrifice."
During Shrovetide, many churches place a basket in thenarthexto collect the previous year'sHoly Weekpalm branches that were blessed and distributed during thePalm Sundayliturgies; on Shrove Tuesday, churches burn thesepalmsto make the ashes used during the services held on the very next day, Ash Wednesday.
In theUnited Kingdom, as part of community celebration, many towns held traditional Shrove Tuesday "mob football" games, some dating as far back as the 17th century.The practice mostly died out in the 19th century after the passing of theHighway Act 1835which banned playing football on public highways.A number of towns have maintained the tradition, includingAlnwickinNorthumberland(Scoring the Hales),AshbourneinDerbyshire(called theRoyal Shrovetide Football),AtherstoneinWarwickshire(called simply theAtherstone Ball Game),St Columb MajorinCornwall(calledHurling the Silver Ball), andSedgefieldinCounty Durham(Sedgefield Ball Game).
Shrove Tuesday was once known as a "half-holiday" in Britain. It started at 11:00 am with the ringing of a church bell.On Pancake Day, "pancake races" are held in villages and towns across the United Kingdom. The tradition is said to have originated in 1445 when a housewife fromOlney,Buckinghamshire, was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard thechurch bellsringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying herfrying panand pancake, tossing it to prevent it from burning.The pancake race remains a relatively common festive tradition in the UK, especiallyEngland. Participants with frying pans race through the streets tossing pancakes into the air and catching them in the pan while running.The pancake race at Olney traditionally has women contestants who carry a frying pan and race over a 415-yard (379 m) course to the finishing line. The rules are strict: contestants must toss the pancake at the start and the finish, and wear a scarf and apron.
Since 1950, the people ofLiberal,Kansas, and Olney have held the "International Pancake Day" race between the two towns. The two towns' competitors race along an agreed-upon measured course. The times of the two towns' competitors are compared to determine a winner overall. As of 2021, Liberal leads the competition with 38 wins to Olney's 31.A similar race is held inNorth SomercotesinLincolnshire, England.
In London, the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race takes place every Shrove Tuesday, with teams from the British lower house (theHouse of Commons), the upper house (theHouse of Lords), and theFourth Estate, contending for the title of Parliamentary Pancake Race Champions. The fun relay race is to raise awareness of Rehab, which provides a range of health and social care, training, education, and employment services in the UK for disabled people and others who are marginalised.
Scarboroughcelebrates by closing the foreshore to all traffic, closing schools early, and inviting all to skip. Traditionally, long ropes were used from the nearby harbour. Thetown crierrang the pancake bell, situated on the corner of Westborough (main street) and Huntriss Row. Since 1996 a replica "pancake bell" situated at Newborough and North Street has been rung to initiate the day's festivities.
Shrove Tuesday in England often involved a form of ritual begging, not dissimilar towassailing, in which children and adolescents would go door-to-door asking for tidbits from the frying pan. If the household was not forthcoming, they could expect levels of mischief, including the pelting of their house, knock and run, or gate stealing. This was known as Lent Crocking, Nicky-Nan Night, the Drawing of Cloam, Dappy-Door Night, or Pan Sharding.The children of the hamlet ofWhitechapel,Lancashire, keep alive a local variant of this tradition by visiting local households and asking "please a pancake", to be rewarded with oranges or sweets. It is thought this local tradition arose when farm workers visited the wealthier farm and manor owners to ask for pancakes or pancake fillings.
In Ireland, the observance of fasting at Lent continued up to the 20th century, with Shrove Tuesday (Irish:Máirt na hInide,"Tuesday of theinitium")marking the last day of the consumption ofmeatfor the Lenten period. This was later relaxed, but with three days of fasting observed, Ash Wednesday,Spy Wednesday, and Good Friday. It was a tradition that the eldest unmarried daughter would toss the first pancake. If the pancake fell on the floor, she would remain unmarried for the next 12 months. As marriages were not traditionally permitted during the Lenten period, as decreed by theCouncil of Trent, weddings on Shrove Tuesday were popular.In some parts of Ireland thehollyfrom Christmas was saved and burnt in the fire for the pancakes. The night was also known as "Skellig Night" inCounties CorkandKerry, during the celebrations, those who were unmarried were taunted with jeers and singing.
Thin pancakes calledbliniare traditional in Christian festivals inBelarus,UkraineandRussiaalso at this time of year (Maslenitsa).
Shrove Tuesday is exactly 47 days before Easter Sunday, amoveable feastbased on the cycles of the moon. The date can be between 3 February and 9 March inclusive.
Shrove Tuesday occurs on these dates: