Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is an annual celebration held every day before the Ash Wednesday. It is celebrated in some countries, especially those that are predominantly Christian and Catholic. The main thing done during this day is eating pancakes. There are even carnivals and other festivities held during this day. People gorge themselves out on eating pancakes as preparation to days of fasting for the holy week.

What is Shrove Tuesday?

This day is also called Pancake Day. It is the last day of what have been called the Shrovetide which is the week before the start of Lent. Shrovetide is an English term that means carnival. The term Shrove comes from the old middle English word “Shriven” which means to confess or say the wrong things that have been done.

The emotion of celebrating this day is a mix of happiness and solemnity. People enjoy eating delicious pancakes with different toppings. On the other hand, people also prepare for the solemn celebration of the Lent which includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday, all leading up to the enjoyable Easter Sunday.

What is the history of Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday has quite interesting and rich history. Its roots can be traced back to when the Lenten season was started as a celebration by the people.

Why is it called Shrove Tuesday?

As mentioned earlier the word shrove comes from the term shrive which means to give absolution after a confession is heard. Hence, Shrove Tuesday is all about people confessing and preparing themselves for the Lent or holy week which starts the next day after this event which is the Ash Wednesday.

Why eat pancakes during Shrove Tuesday?

There is a long history as to why pancakes have been traditionally eaten for the celebration of this event. According to historians, during the early times, most people only have eggs, flour, and milk by the time the holy week arrives. And so they combine these ingredients to make themselves some pancakes and indulge themselves into these delicious delicacies before they go on a fast the next day after it.

How long have we been celebrating with pancake races?

One of the staple activities during Shrove Tuesday is pancake race. This popular activity involves people passing around some pancakes while trying to reach the end goal or the finish. There are now lots of varieties for pancake races. Regardless, the race will always become a staple activity during this event.

What is the origin of the Shrove Tuesday?

The celebration of the Shrove Tuesday started at the same time the Lent celebration was started by the people. It was around 1000 AD when a week before the Lent, everyone became used to going to a confessor where they confess their bad deeds and repent for those sins by fasting. But before going on that fast, people are first advised to eat pancakes so as to prepare themselves for the upcoming fasting days. Shrove Tuesday then became a formal part of the holy week celebration.

When is Shrove Tuesday?

This holiday is always celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday. What this means is that people will be celebrating Shrove 1 March. And the year after that, they will be enjoying eating pancakes during this event..

Why celebrate Shrove Tuesday?

Not everyone is required to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. However, those who are Catholics and Christians have been celebrating this event on a regular basis especially since it is a part of the holy week. If you are a part of this religious group, then you should also eat pancakes during the Shrove Tuesday especially if you are planning to embark on a journey of fasting for the rest of the days of the holy week.

How to Celebrate Shrove Tuesday?

There are so many activities that are conducted by people to celebrate Shrove Tuesday in the best way possible. The most important of these activities include the following:

Make and Eat Delicious Pancakes

Perhaps the best activity to do during this day is to make delicious pancakes and then eat them after that. There are no requirements regarding what kind of pancake you have to make. You can make a simple pancake or even an extravagant one with all different kinds of toppings like chocolate, mallows, and sprinkles.

Go to a Pancake Restaurant

If you don’t have time to make your own pancake during this day, then what you can do instead is to go to a pancake restaurant to eat some good pancakes in store for you. For sure, pancake restaurants will be having lots of varieties of pancakes available for consumers during this day since they expect people to be rushing over to their shops to buy pancakes during the event.

Participate in Mardi Gras Festivities

People do not let this day pass by without enjoying themselves into some Mardi Gras festivities that involve carnivals. It is just good to have this day full of fun since you will be spending the next few days in peace and silence. Hence, you better take this opportunity to have the most fun with your friends and family.

Facts About Shrove Tuesday

Of course, you cannot let this day pass by without sharing some good facts about Shrove Tuesday to your friends, families, or even your followers. Here are some interesting facts for the Shrove Tuesday:

• In USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, Shrove Tuesday is called Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday.
• Mardi Gras is a French term that means Fat Tuesday.
• The Germans refer to this day as Fastnacht Day.
• During Pancake Day, Lithuanian people consume both pancakes and donuts.
• Polish communities also celebrate this day which they call Paczki Day (their term for pancakes) and they eat a traditional pastry they call paczki.
• Shrove Tuesday falls exactly 47 days before Easter Sunday.
• During Shrove Tuesday, a restaurant in the USA called IHOP offers free pancakes to customers in order to raise money for children’s hospitals.
• In Britain, a traditional activity during the day is the pancake race.
• In Finland, Pancake Day is celebrated not by eating pancakes but by eating green pea soup and pastries.
• Shrove Tuesday can fall anywhere between February 3 and March 9 of the year.

Shrove Tuesday Greetings and Quotes

• Someone who eats pancakes and jam can’t be so awfully dangerous. You can talk to him. Happy Pancake Day everyone!
• There was no time for chit-chat when there were chocolate chip pancakes to be eaten.
• Good morning everyone! Happy Pancake Day! Be careful how you toss and try not to make a sticky mess! Too early to think of a pun better than that!
• In a big family, the first child is kind of like the first pancake. If it’s not perfect, that’s okay, there are a lot more coming along.
• When you suddenly remember it’s Shrove Tuesday and you can eat all the pancakes you want, it’s like the best feeling ever. Happy Shrove Tuesday everyone!