Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday or Pancake day is a important date in the Christian religion. It marks the last three days of the Shrovetide at the begining of Lent. The date of Shrove Tuesday varies with the date of Easter which is set on a lunar calander. The date can be sometime between 3rd of Feburary and the 9th or March. Shrove Tuesday is aways 47 days before Easter Sunday. The name Shrove comes form the word 'Shrive' meaning to confess. Tradition would have that Christians would confess their sins on this day in preparation for lent.

Shrove Tueday has become linked with a tradition of eating pancakes. The time of Lent is supposed to be a time of fasting: Certain foods, including milk, eggs and butter, are forbiden. Pancakes were made to use up the last stocks of these foods and to indulge a little before the fasting began.