Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday - the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It is so called because it was the day on which people were ‘shriven’ or absolved of their sins prior to Lent.

The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by way of Confession and doing penance. Thus Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving that English Christians were expected to do prior to receiving absolution immediately before Lent begins.

Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Tuesday, because traditionally pancakes were made on this day. Many people in Ireland (and elsewhere) still enjoy celebrating ‘Pancake Tuesday’ by making pancakes. The reason for associating pancakes with Shrove Tuesday is that they use up the fresh items from the larder – items which could not be eaten during the period of Lent, as it was a time of abstinence.

Odlums, one of Irelands longest manufacturers of flour run Odlums Pancake Party in aid of The Children's Hospital in Tallaght. You host a party any time between the 20th and 24th February by inviting family, friends, work colleagues, to your home, school, community centre or work place. The idea is to have some fun while raising money for a worthy cause. They have pancake recipes on the website; traditional, easy and easier!

I am the traditional type with sugar and lemons, but there are various methods of pancakes from different countries, maybe instead of traditional you might like to try Griddle (from America) Crepes (from France) or Bellinis (from Russia). Have fun :-)

Nowadays we don't have to use up all the fresh items in the larder but many people still want to atone, offer up, do penance, by giving up something they enjoy for the Lenten period. Be it chocolate, sugar, alcohol or cigarettes. For years in homes around the country many school children brought home the Trócaire Box. The idea being that what you would have spent on chocolate, sugar, alcohol or cigarettes you put in to the Trócaire Box instead. In that way you are helping not only yourself but also people in the Third world.

Trócaire state on their website;

Lent is our most important fundraising and awareness building period. Each year during Lent we highlight particular challenges facing people in the developing world and encourage the public to take action through campaigning and by raising funds through our Trócaire box.

In our home my son has taken to making the pancakes (and Mum gets to clean up after!!) so enjoy Pancake Tuesday and try not to leave the pancake on the ceiling when you have the toss the pancake competition! :-)