What is “Shrove Tuesday” (the day before Ash Wednesday)?
The day before Ash Wednesday, many people will celebrate the “feast before the fast” with Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”), as we know it today, actually comes from “Shrove Tuesday” (traditionally called Shrovetide, the word “shrove” coming from the word “confess”). Shrovetide was the final celebration before Lent. During Lent, people would typically wear dark clothing, abstain from meat and rich foods, and avoid celebrations. Therefore, Shrove Tuesdaythe day before Lentprovided people with an opportunity to engage in one last celebration, wear colorful costumes and decorations, and use up the rich foods in their homes. In some places, “Fat Tuesday” is also known and celebrated as Pancake Day. Pancake Day- and the pancake supper -was (and still is) a practical means of using up those rich foods and other perishable items such as sausages, bacon, other scraps of meat, etc. Another tradition of Mardi Gras is the King Cake, a circular-shaped pastry decorated with icing an
