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Today is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. “Shrove” comes from the word “shrive,” which referred to the confession of sins that was customary in the European Middle Ages as a preparation for Lent.
Over the centuries, different cultures have developed creative ways of celebrating the Shrove Tuesday, often as a way to use up “luxury” ingredients such as eggs and flour and sweets, things that might be given up in Lent.
In places such as Latin America and New Orleans, people celebrate Mardi Gras, or Karnival, with parties and parades, costumes, masks, and beads. In parts of Germany it’s called Fasching, an opportunity for playing practical jokes and throwing rowdy street parties. In England, Ireland, and Australia, it’s called Pancake Day. This day represents the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence before the solemn season that begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday.
Does your family or community celebrate Shrove Tuesday with any traditions or festivities? Or do you prepare for Lent and Ash Wednesday in a quieter, more reflective way? Have you chosen any Lenten disciplines this year, like prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? How have you prepared your heart for the journey of Lent?
This message is excerpted from “From beads to ashes” by Kate Elliott from the February 7, 2024, blog of the Women of the ELCA.