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Shrove Tuesday
[ shrohv tooz-dey, -dee, tyooz- ]
noun
- the last day of Shrovetide, once observed as a time of confession and absolution, later as a season of merrymaking before Lent. Fat Tuesday ( def ), Mardi Gras ( def 1 ).
Shrove Tuesday
noun
- the last day of Shrovetide; Pancake Day
Word History and Origins
Origin of Shrove Tuesday1
Example Sentences
Beating the Hatters gave Chris Wilder's side a tiny glimmer of hope of avoiding the drop but, after this result, I am expecting them to feel as flat as a leftover pancake from Shrove Tuesday.
Celebrated as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in other parts of the world, the name Shrove Tuesday derives from the English word meaning to seek forgiveness or be granted absolution.
The Shrove Tuesday event sees hundreds of people grapple in the street for possession of a heavy ball.
Those wishing to take part will be able to nominate celebratory days such as Hogmanay, Burns Night, Shrove Tuesday and the Welsh tradition of Eisteddfodau.
By tradition, Carnival falls on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Christians begin fasting for Lent.
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More About Shrove Tuesday
What is Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday in some Christian traditions.
It is the last day of Shrovetide, the three-day period before the beginning of Lent, which is the season of fasting and penitence that precedes Easter. Shrovetide also includes Shrove Sunday and Shrove Monday.
Shrove Tuesday is sometimes called Pancake Day due to the tradition of eating pancakes on that day.
The day before Ash Wednesday can also be called Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday).
When is Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday happens 47 days before Easter Sunday. (Lent is often considered a period of 40 days, but it actually consists of 40 weekdays.) Since Easter Sunday moves every year, Shrove Tuesday can fall between February 3 and March 9.
Shrove Tuesday 2024 falls on February 13. In 2025, Shrove Tuesday will fall on March 4.
More information and context on Shrove Tuesday
The first records of the term Shrove Tuesday come from the 1490s. Shrove is the past tense of the verb shrive, which means “confess one’s sins, such as to a priest” (it can also mean “to hear confession”).
Shrovetide was once a time that many Christians devoted to confessing their sins before the beginning of Lent. But Lent itself is a time of fasting and abstaining, and Shrovetide and Shrove Tuesday eventually became, for many, a time of indulging before the Lenten fast begins.
Traditionally, fasting for Lent has involved giving up foods like eggs and fats (such as butter). Shrove Tuesday is the last day to use up such foods so they don’t go to waste during Lent, and pancakes are one of the easiest (and most delicious) ways to use these ingredients. That’s why Shrove Tuesday is often called Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday.
Shrove Tuesday is commonly used as the name for the day in the U.K. and some other places, but the name Mardi Gras is more common in France and the U.S.
What are some terms that often get used in discussing Shrove Tuesday?
How is Shrove Tuesday discussed in real life?
The name Shrove Tuesday is most commonly used in the U.K. The day is associated with the tradition of eating pancakes and indulging before Lent.
It’s bright outside in a way that makes Spring feel near, our garden is full of birds & Shrove Tuesday is a mere 15 days away. Welcome to February.
— Sara (@callmesara) February 1, 2021
Seeing the new seasonal items on NH, and I'm mildly disappointed there's not a plate of pancakes for Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday.
— 🌹 Natalie 🌹 (@finlands_beret) January 28, 2021
Shrove Tuesday means one thing in Derbyshire: it’s Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football! 🎉 Here’s EVERYTHING you need to know about this fascinating game which divides the town and has been played for centuries: https://t.co/zYTvuVw79Z ⚽️ #ShrovetideFootball #PancakeDay pic.twitter.com/Q04WeKKcLN
— Visit Peak District & Derbyshire (@vpdd) March 5, 2019
Try using Shrove Tuesday!
True or False?
Shrove Tuesday always falls on the same date.
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