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Join St. Paul’s United Church for Shrove Tuesday

Get the syrup ready because St. Paul’s in Kindersley is holding their annual Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day Supper on March 4 from 5 to 7 pm.

Did you ever stop to wonder how and if others around the world celebrate this day? In case you don’t know, there’s more to this day than flipping batter.

Shrove Tuesday marks the last day before Lent, a six-week period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. In Christian tradition, Lent commemorates the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Historically, Christians observed this solemn time by giving up rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy. Shrove Tuesday became a day to use up these ingredients before the fasting season began, giving rise to the tradition of making pancakes.

The name “Shrove” comes from the old English word “shriving,” meaning to confess one’s sins and receive absolution from a priest. In medieval England, the ringing of the ‘shriving bell’ would call people to church for confession on this day.

In France and other regions, it is celebrated as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday, which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season and the beginning of the 40-day Lenten fast. In New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Venice are famous for their vibrant Mardi Gras celebrations featuring parades, costumes, and street parties.

In Germany, it’s called Fastnacht, meaning “Eve of the Fast,” while Iceland’s Sprengidagur translates to “Bursting Day,” a reference to eating until full.

Poland is one of the countries that stand out, as instead of Shrove Tuesday, they observe the last Thursday before Lent, calling it Fat Thursday. Traditional food of that day are Pączki (think of jam filled, deep fried doughnuts). Shrove Tuesday is referred to as ostatki, a derivative of the word leftovers.

Like Easter, the date of Shrove Tuesday changes each year because it follows the lunar calendar. This connection to the moon led to early confusion in Britain, where different traditions set conflicting dates for Easter. The issue was settled at the Synod of Whitby in 664, which adopted the Roman method of date calculation and still in use today.

So whether you enjoy a pancake feast or want to come down to St. Paul’s for an evening of conversation, the spirit of the day remains rooted in history, faith, and togetherness.

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