Shrove Tuesday has a long history and dates back to at least 1000AD. The word shrove comes from the verb to shrive, an old English word which means to obtain absolution for sins through confession and penance. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of 40 days of penitence, leading up to Easter.
Because Shrove Tuesday is directly linked to Easter, the date varies from year to year. Easter Day is usually the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or just after Spring Equinox and as a result, can occur on any date between 22nd March and the end of April. Lent begins 40 days before Easter Day.
The period running up to the beginning Lent is associated with celebration and carnival in many cultures, of which the best known example is Mardi Gras. Because Lent is associated with fasting, pre Lenten celebrations are usually characterised by feasting and eating rich foods. In the UK, the traditional thing to eat is pancakes. Pancakes, fried breads or pastries made with sugar, fat and eggs are also eaten at this time in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Everone has a favourite pancake recipe but, should you feel like trying a new one, I'd recommend two from Nigel Slater, one a traditional crepe, with lemon and orange, and one with apples, maple syrup and vanilla cream. This article, in this week's Observer, also includes a recipe for a buckwheat galette. Yum!
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