Shrove Tuesday

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Shrove Tuesday is the last day of what once was known as “Shrovetide,” the week preceding the beginning of Lent. Shrovetide is the English equivalent of the Latin carnem levare (“to take away the flesh”), from which “Carnival” is derived. No matter the term used — Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or Fasching — this day is intended to be a preparation for Lent. In the early church, this was a day for confession, preparing the way for penance and renewed faith. Pope Saint Gregory (d. 604), wrote to Saint Augustine of Canterbury to issue this rule: “We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese, and eggs.” From this rule came many cultural foods that allowed people to use all their eggs, milk, and cheese. These culinary delights include traditional French beignets, Italian Chiacchiere, German Kreppel, the famous King Cake, and the English tradition of eating pancakes for dinner. Over time, people began using the day before Ash Wednesday to make merry one more time before the fasting began.