Shrove Tuesday

In the Christian calendar, the day before the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday). It is also known as Mardi Gras.

In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is known as Pancake Day, when people eat pancakes made from eggs and flour. It used to be the custom to empty the cupboards of any rich food and feast upon it before the Lenten fast.

On Shrove Tuesday Christians confess their sins to God and ask for forgiveness before Lent begins. Some Christians prefer to go to confession to seek absolution (forgiveness) from their sins by a priest. Receiving forgiveness gives Christians a new start to prepare for Easter.

The term Mardi Gras (French ‘fat Tuesday’) comes from the custom of using up all the fat in the household before the beginning of Lent. A festival was traditionally held on this day in Paris, and there are carnivals in many parts of the world, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Italy; and Brazil. The custom of the carnival (from the Latin ‘to take away meat’) began in Europe. Shrove Tuesday was the last day of feasting before the Lenten fasting began.