Communities across the area celebrated Shrove Tuesday with pancake suppers. Members of the Trinity United Church in Preeceville hosted their annual celebration on February 9. The men of the church prepared and served pancakes, sausages and ham to a packed hall of hungry community members.
Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Days) is the Tuesday in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. In other communities such as in Louisiana where it is called Mardi Gras or some translation thereof, this is a carnival day, and also the last day of "fat eating" or "gorging" before the fasting period of Lent.
This moveable festival on the calendar is determined by Easter. The expression "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the word shrive, meaning absolve. Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics who make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with.
Being the last day before the penitential season of Lent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one sacrifices for the upcoming 40 days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations, before commencing the fasting and religious obligations associated with Lent. The term “Mardi Gras” is French for "Fat Tuesday," referring to the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
