Let’s Celebrate Fat Tuesday
February 9, 2016//
Topics to Dig Into
1 Corinthians 10:6-8 (NLT)
Woo-hoo! Let’s celebrate Fat Tuesday – the final day of Mardi Gras!
Why such a worldwide party?
Many revelers probably don’t realize Mardi Gras is the last hurrah before Lent which always begins on a Wednesday – 40 days prior to Easter. Lent is a season of repentance, humility, and self-denial preparing us for Christ’s crucifixion. So, on the eve of this somber season, people get their party on.
Why is it called Fat or Shrove Tuesday? And why are pancakes traditional?
Rich foods like milk, fats, eggs, and meat were forbidden during this season of self-denial, so people cleared out their ice boxes and feasted on pancakes. In Old England, the day included pancake tosses, pancake races, pancake recipe contests, and children going door-to-door asking for pancakes (like American trick-or-treating). It is still called Pancake Day.
The word ‘shrove’ comes from the Old English word ‘shrive’ which means to confess your sins. Over 1000 years ago, a monk declared that “in the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him.” (thisischurch.com)
So if you’re local to Medfield, join me at UCC for Pancakes with a Purpose from 5:30-7. Our youth hold this Shrove Tuesday supper to raise funds for their mission trip in July.
Did you learn something new about Shrove Tuesday? How will you celebrate?
#SeedsOfScripture #ShroveTuesday #Lent #Easter
Thank you for this, Cathy. I did not know about the word Shrove and it's meaning. Great history lesson for me. Wish I could attend the pancake feast. Have a blessed lent season.