Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day is the day before Ash Wednesday observed by many Christians. It is the last day of Shrovetide before the season of Lent starts, with shrove coming from the word shrive, meaning “absolve”. Many Christians indulge in fatty foods before they give them up for Lent, which created the customs of eating pancakes and giving the day the name “Pancake Day”. There are many other customs that occur today, from the ringing of church bells, pancake races and Shrovetide football. Churches also burn the palms distributed during the previous year’s Palm Sunday liturgies to make the ashes used during the services held on the very next day, Ash Wednesday.
The specific custom of British Christians eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday dates to the 16th century. Along with is emphasis on feasting, another theme involves Christians repenting of their sins in preparation to begin the season of Lent, with the ringing of the church bells (the toll is known as the Shriving Bell) to remind them.
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