Shrove Tuesday

Posted on by Robert Eck

The Lenten Season has arrived.  Forty-six days of fasting and penance for those who participate.  it begins on Ash Wednesday, with the administration of ashes on a believer’s  forehead, with a sobering message: “Remember man that thou are dust, and unto dust you shall return,” and ends on Easter Sunday.    

The day before Ash Wednesday bears different names with different purposes.  The most familiar is Mardi Gras — French for “fat Tuesday,” when people eat, drink and party to prepare for the 46 days ahead.  Less familiar is Shrove Tuesday, which is the last day of Shrovetide comprising the three preceding days before Ash Wednesday, notably for people to confess their sins and to prepare for Lent.  A third is Pancake Day, a practice in some European countries, when most households rid themselves of forbidden foods, like milk, eggs, sugar and flour to prepare for Lent.    

The contrast is startling.  Mardi Gras celebrates to the nth degree, including a carnival with costumes and beads, whereas Shrovetide adds three more days of penance in preparation. Pancake Day is practical — to dispose of perishable products that are taboo during Lent.   

An interesting question:  If you were faced with the three pre-lenten practices, which would one choose?  Party? Penance? or Pancakes?  The carnival party, parade and rich eating and drinking would be hard to pass up.  I suppose a potential confessee could wait a day or two, perhaps to add more sins to confess later.  

The word “shrove” is the past tense verb of “shrive,” meaning to present oneself to a priest for confession, penance and absolution. dictionary.com  Shrive is an irregular verb conjugated as: shrive, shrove, shriven.  An interesting verb to add to one’s arsenal — particularly a day or two before Lent.  It may have fallen from common usage, but it is still recognized.

The tradition of Carnival, and all that accompanies it, is believed to have derived from an ancient pagan festival for fertility and spring.  The Romans participated, but when Rome converted to Christianity, they eschewed giving up the party, and so combined it with lenten preparation. (Wikipedia, Carnival)

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