Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
Shrove Tuesday is the day before the Christian season of Lent begins. Traditionally, Christians used to fast during Lent, following the example of Jesus who fasted for forty days in the wilderness before He started
His work. Shrove Tuesday was the day on which people went to church to be forgiven their sins before Lent began. The old word for being forgiven is 'shriven' and it is from this word that we get the term 'shrove' Tuesday.
Because of the fast that followed, people used to try to finish up the food that they were not going to eat in Lent. This included butter and eggs, and traditionally these were made into pancakes.
This is how the custom of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday grew up. It is still kept today, although we do not usually fast to the same extent during Lent as our ancestors did. Pancake Day does not only involve
eating pancakes. In many parts of the world, Shrove Tuesday is the traditional time for carnival and the day is often called 'Mardi Gras'. (This means 'Fat Tuesday', because it was the day on which fat was used up and eaten).
THe day following Shrove Tuesday is called Ash Wednesday. Some Christians wear a spot of ash on their foreheads, in the shape of a cross, made by burning last year's palm crosses.
Today many Christians not only eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, but continue the other customs of Lent. They deny themselves things they like in order to follow the example and teaching of Jesus. Some people give up
sweets, alcoholic drinks or smoking, and send the money they save to the Church or a charity. Others will confess their wrong-doing, praying to God on Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday, and take on some special work
for other people or go to church to hear talks about Christianity.
Many Christian Churches are not decorated with flowers during Lent. In some, crosses, crucifixes and pictures are covered with purple cloth to encourage people to think for themselves about their faith without the help of
the decorations in the church. Purple is the colour used in churches to represent feeling sorry. When it is used during the season of Lent, it reminds people that they should feel sorry for the things they have done or
said which have hurt God or other people. The long, solemn season of Lent, lasting forty days, prepares people for Easter, the happiest of Christian festivals.