Ask the Priest: Shrove Tuesday

Sometimes people ask questions about the origins of our various traditions in the church or about what we believe. Here is one question I got recently.

What is Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday is the English version of Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. It is the feast before the fast. Traditionally, it was a day to clean out the pantry and use up all the sugar and eggs and rich foods before the season of Lent. So pancakes and cakes of all kinds were often served.

The word “shrive” was an old English word that meant to confess and be forgiven. Shrove Tuesday confessions honored the beginning of this season when we seek to turn our hearts back to God and to prepare for 40 days of spiritual renewal during Lent.

Many Episcopal churches host dinners with pancakes and sausage as part of Shrove Tuesday celebrations. Here at St. Barnabas, we will have pancakes but also celebrate this day with a fire where we burn the palms from the year before and have an opportunity for children and families to learn about the season of Lent (and even receive ashes a bit early). We will have a very short inter-active service for children at 5:30 p.m.

In the spirit of this post, I have been encouraged by some members to create a way for people to share their questions. I am always happy to answer your questions in person, but perhaps you have a question that others might be interested in as well. I have created a form where you can share your questions and I will do my best to answer them. We also have a box in the Great Hall where you can drop a question.