Today as a class we celebrated Shrove Tuesday!
Did you know that Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Catholics went to confession and were “shriven” (release people from their sins). A bell would be rung to call people to confession. This came to be called the “Pancake Bell”.
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year.
Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.
During the 40 days of Lent, believers give up luxury food in the name of Jesus. This is because after being baptised, Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting in the desert. Here he was tempted by the devil, and Catholics try to resist their own temptation to honour this.
Traditionally, Pancake Day was a way to get rid of fatty and sweet ingredients the night before Lent.
Many people still fast, partially-fast or give up one thing throughout the period.
Shrove Tuesday is a good time reflect on how you want to go forward for the rest of the year. We did this as a class;
What do you want to improve on?
How can you help others?
Can you give back to the community?
As we reflected on these ideas individually, we shared in our own delicious pancakes!
