What Is the Meaning and History of Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday occurs the day before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent). The date can range from as early as February 3 to as late as March 9. It is preceded by Shrove Monday and marks the end of Shrovetide, also known as the Pre-Lenten Season. This year, Shrove Tuesday is on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024.

Shrove Tuesday is precisely 47 days before Easter Sunday, a movable feast based on the computus calculation that determines the yearly date of Easter.

Lenten Season Dates for 2024

Shrove Tuesday: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Palm Sunday: Sunday, March 24, 2024
Easter Sunday: Sunday, March 31, 2024

Future Dates for Shrove Tuesday

February 13, 2024
March 4, 2025
February 17, 2026
February 9. 2027

The tradition of acknowledging the start of the Lenten fast has been observed for at least hundreds of years. By the age of the late Middle Ages, the feast of Shrovetide lasted until the start of Lent. It was customary in many cultures to eat pancakes or other foods made with the butter, eggs, and fat that would be given up during the Lenten season. The tradition of British Christians enjoying pancakes on Shrove Tuesday dates back to the 16th century. 

Along with its celebration of feasting, another Shrove Tuesday tradition includes Christians repenting their sins in preparation to start the season of Lent. Ælfric of Eynsham's "Ecclesiastical Institutes" from about 1000 AD declared: "In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]." 

In many Protestant and Roman Catholic Christian churches, a popular Shrove Tuesday ritual is the ringing of the church bells (on this day, known as the Shriving Bell) "to call the faithful to confession before the solemn season of Lent" and for people to "begin frying their pancakes." Some churches also burn the palms distributed during the previous year's Palm Sunday liturgies to make the ashes used during the services held on the very next day, Ash Wednesday.

Download your FREE copy of our 40-Day Lent and Easter Devotional  - filled with daily Scriptures, reflections, and prayers for the Lent season. 

Shrove Tuesday serves multiple purposes: encouraging Christians to repent of their sins before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday and also giving them the opportunity to partake in a last round of jubilation before the beginning of the austere Lenten season, which is characterized by making a Lenten sacrifice, fasting, praying and several spiritual disciplines, such as checking a Lenten calendar and reading a daily devotional.

Shrove Tuesday is associated with various traditions and customs in different cultures. Some of the common traditions include:

Pancake Day: One of the most widely known traditions is the consumption of pancakes. People make and enjoy pancakes on Shrove Tuesday as a way to use up ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the fasting period of Lent. Pancake races are also organized in some places, where participants run while flipping pancakes in a pan.

Confession and Absolution: The name "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the word "shrive," which means to confess and receive absolution for one's sins. In the Christian tradition, some individuals attend church services for confession and spiritual preparation before the start of Lent.

Feasting and Celebration: Shrove Tuesday is often seen as a day of celebration and indulgence before the more solemn season of Lent. People may gather with family and friends to enjoy a festive meal or participate in various activities and events organized by communities.

Mardi Gras Festivities: In many regions, especially those influenced by French culture, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as Mardi Gras, which translates to "Fat Tuesday." Mardi Gras is known for elaborate parades, colorful costumes, lively music, and street celebrations. This tradition is particularly prominent in places like New Orleans.

Carnival Celebrations: In some countries and regions, Shrove Tuesday is part of the larger Carnival season. Carnival often involves elaborate costumes, masquerade balls, and street processions. The festivities may continue until midnight, marking the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

Traditional Foods: Besides pancakes, different regions have their own traditional foods associated with Shrove Tuesday. In some cultures, specific pastries, doughnuts, or fried treats are prepared and enjoyed on this day.

Pancakes are connected with Shrove Tuesday as a way to use up rich foods, such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting period of the 40 days of Lent. Liturgical fasting calls for eating simpler food while abstaining from meat, dairy products, or eggs.

On Shrove Tuesday, the final day of the Shrovetide season, many Christians, such as Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Roman Catholics, have an emphasized focus on self-examination, reflecting on what sins they need to repent for and what improvements in life or aspects of spiritual growth they need to ask God's help in edifying.

Additionally, many Christians conclude their determination of what Lenten sacrifices they will make for the 40 days of Lent on Shrove Tuesday. While undergoing a Lenten sacrifice, it is helpful to pray for strength and encourage fellow Christians in their fast saying, for example: "May God bless your Lenten sacrifice."

The name “Shrove Tuesday” arises from it, marking the culmination of the season known as Shrovetide, which includes indulging in food that one might give up as their Lenten sacrifice.

The word "shrove" is derived from the Old English word "shrive," which means to confess one's sins and receive absolution. Shrove Tuesday is traditionally a day of preparation for the fasting and penance of Lent. In the Middle Ages, Christians would go to confession, or "shrive," on this day to prepare themselves for the upcoming season of Lent.

The association with pancakes is thought to have originated as a way for people to use up rich foods like eggs, milk, and sugar before the fasting period of Lent began. These ingredients were often restricted during Lent, so people would make pancakes to consume these items before the period of abstinence.

What is Shrovetide?

Shrovetide, also known as the Pre-Lenten Season, is the Christian period of preparation before the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent.

Shrovetide starts on Septuagesima Sunday, includes Sexagesima Sunday, Quinquagesima Sunday (commonly called Shrove Sunday), as well as Shrove Monday, and concludes on Shrove Tuesday.

Shrove Tuesday Prayer

God Our Father, As we prepare to begin Lent, help us to remember what today, Shrove Tuesday, is truly about.

Thank you that you Love all of us as your children and that through the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus, we can receive forgiveness for our sins. Help us to celebrate and live that message of forgiveness today by forgiving those who have sinned against you.

Lord, we know that you created the world and you created us. You created pancakes and you created our taste-buds too! Enable us to enjoy ‘pancake day’ in a spirit of celebration of the goodness of your creation. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Source: sjchs.uk

Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and eternal God, you hate nothing you have made and you forgive the sins of those who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that we truly repent of our sins, acknowledge our wretchedness, and obtain perfect forgiveness from you, the God of all mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Historic Collect for Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Shrove Tuesday Scriptures

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out ~ Acts 3:19

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ~ Matthew 4:17

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10:24-25

That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. ~ Romans 1:12

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. ~ Acts 2:46-47