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It
is also known as Mardi Gras (literally "fat Tuesday" in
French), Carnival (from the Latin for "farewell to the flesh"),
and Fasnacht (the Germanic "night of the fast").
The
word Shrove comes from the Old English word, Shrive - to confess
one’s sins. Shrove Tuesday is a day where one confesses their
sins and asks God for absolution.
Shrove
Tuesday is celebrated in many different ways around the world; the
Brazilians samba in Rio and the people of New Orleans throw their
most famous party of the year - Mardi Gras.
In England the day is also called Pancake Tuesday.
Eggs
and butter were among food that used to be forbidden during Lent,
so they were often used up in pancakes.
Pancake
races are also held where people must successfully toss and flip
their pancakes into the air before crossing the finish line. Points
are awarded for time, for number and height of flips, and number
of times the pancake turns over.
It
is believed that the tradition of pancake races was born out of
women rushing to church to confess their sins before the noon cut
off time, clutching their half finished pancakes.
Today,
people tend to give up less vital dietary ingredients such as chocolate.
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