Shrove Tuesday, also known as "Fat Tuesday"

What does Shrove mean?  It comes from the word ‘shrive’, which means to give absolution after hearing confession. Therefor,  Shrove Tuesday is the day when people went to confession to prepare themselves for Lent, which begins on the following day, Ash Wednesday.

So, why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

Traditionally, today  was the last chance for a spot of indulgence before 40 days of fasting, and also an opportunity to use up food that couldn’t be eaten during Lent.  This included eggs, fat and milk, which were made into pancakes and eaten on that day.  Although that is no longer the case, it has become a tradition for many.

The earliest known English recipe dates from the 15th century, although pancakes had been eaten in other countries for centuries before that. In the French-speaking world, the day is known as ‘Mardi Gras’ or ‘Fat Tuesday’.